Only one more day… Today is the last day that I will ever be this age. It's the last day that I can call myself this. Tomorrow's my birthday. I should be excited, right? No… Not at all.

See, last year, I was living in a shelter. I lost contact with ALL of my friends, all of my family, the only people I talked to were the other “street” kids, the apathetic staff that worked at the shelter, and my abusive boyfriend.

I was still there the day I turned 16. It's supposed to be a girl's most important birthday, as I've heard. But ironically enough, that turned out to be my worst birthday ever.

That boyfriend of mine decided that my birthday was the perfect day to call me a “vile c*nt” and leave me for a guy. Surprise!

I sat in my room all day crying and reading my books, waiting for the day to be over. But my roommate had walked in. She asked why I was crying and I told her how shitty the day has been. Her only response? “Oh, it's your birthday? Cool. Hey, can I borrow your lighter?”

That was the only comment I got about my birthday at all.

So now, a year later, I'm turning 17. Currently living on my own, new boyfriend, back in touch with my family and friends… But I still feel like this year is going to be a failure as well.

After last year, the idea of this birthday really depresses me, because now I'm turning 17 and I never got the chance to celebrate my sweet 16th like all other girls I know. I feel like it's so unfair and I don't even really want this birthday to happen.

But I have to put on a happy face for my family, cause they don't know anything about this at all, and I don't want to disappoint them by seeming depressed all day. But then I also feel like lying to them is worse,

What do I do??