"Don't pity me though, I beg of you. Many who hear this story immediately assume that my parents were cruel an

"Don't pity me though, I beg of you. Many who hear this story immediately assume that my parents were cruel and had no love for their child." Valerie's eyes become stern. "My parents had respect for me. They taught me something that has supported me all of my life. – A sense of self-esteem."