Once upon a time

Each of you can begin the story of your life in this manner. You have created your version of your story based on selective memories. You are the main character of your story populated with countless supporting players. There are plots and subplots as you face the challenges portrayed in your story. Some of you may have villains whose goal it is to thwart your dreams. Your story is constantly being rewritten as you become aware of information that affects your past. If you find that you have a long-lost sibling or a parent tells a new and different version of their story causing you to have to rethink your own. You may have had a specific filter when you were creating your story. Perhaps you saw your life through the eyes of a victim and later were empowered to change that filter to an individual with strength and courage. The permutations of your story are endless. Remember that your story is not who you are, simply a recalling of your past based on what you know and feel today. Those recollections can change in an instant. We were raised to believe that stories should end with "And they lived happily ever after." You get to fill in the blank with what follows 'after.' What would you choose to write as that today?