You Are Not What Happens To You
Acacia Breeze Arnold
Scene I
Tuesday March 8 2016
Reece drove away leaving the superglue hold her newly ex boyfriend had had on her. The further she
drove away from his house that sucked her in like a tornado, the freer she felt. She was raised by
her grandmother who was her biggest role model and best friend. Reece’s grandmother was the
only thing she had in this life and like the demons that speak to us when we are lowest, they
always dangled that in front of her face. Having been with someone who gave her an unhealthy
amount of undivided love and attention and being able to walk away from that, raised the
vibration of her spirit.
As she drove to a place she didn’t associate as home, with all of her belongings from her ex’s
house, tears sprinted away from her eyes. She struggled to see the correct key to open her door.
Once finally opened, Reece let go of everything she was holding and stood at the front of the door.
She tried to collect herself and envisioned steel armor around her body as she powered in the
kitchen to get ready to defend her honor.
Reece’s mother was sitting in the kitchen listening to another YouTube, Christian, conspiracy
theorist video about how the government is slowly shutting down Wal Marts to build FEMA
camps. They had gone through so much together that their relationship was broken beyond
compare. So they put a band aid on top of the forever gushing wound, never addressing the pools
of blood on the floor.
Reece’s Mom: Are you ok?! You look like you have been crying!
Reece: Yea I’m ok ...I broke up with Drew
Reece’s Mom: WHAT! WHY? I love him and he’s so good for you. You guys have been
together for years! He loves you more than any other man could. Men like that don’t exist
everyday Reece. I think you need to rethink this.
Reece: Mom... it was unhealthy and codependent. I didn’t love him, I loved what he did for me...
when he would speak I wouldn’t listen. He would try to touch me every second when we where
together as a fear of losing me. I could feel his soul trying to latch onto mine in hopes of taking
him away from his problems., I love him as a person but I don’t think I was truly in love with
him. It was the idea of having a “perfect” boyfriend that I loved. I was Nora in “A Doll’s House.”
I lost an identity I never found. I’m not going back...
Reece’s Mom: You should really think about what you are doing. Everyone has the idea that the
grass is greener. Drew is a good guy and most men are not like that. Everyone wants excitement
and they have this grand idea of romance that isn’t present when having a long term relationship.
Reece: I’m not going to be with someone I am not in love with just because they treat me well.
The grass might be greener on the other side Mom but when you lift it up it’s all dirt. Our
relationship was way past due for this breakup and I wish you would just support me. I think
your choice of men has made you jaded.... I don’t think its fair for you to give me relationship
advice given your history.
Reece’s Mom: I just want what’s best for you. You're right -- I don’t have the best taste in men,
but I know a good guy when I see one.
Reece: If you really wanted what’s best for me you would stop projecting your own fears onto
my relationships. I have to head out; I’ll see you later.
Reece’s Mom: Where are you going? We are having a serious conversation!
Reece: To the gym.
Reece’s Mom: Well, what are you going to do?
Reece stands up from the kitchen table and heads to her room to put on her gym clothes.
Her door is slightly open allowing her to hear her mother's question. Once she is done changing
she goes into the living room with her gym bag and a day-old water.
Reece: Do about what?
Reece’s Mom: About the break up? You guys were together every day, you practically lived
together. What are you going to do now?
Reece: What am I going to do? I am going to focus on myself and do things that make me
happy like healthy people do.
Reece had been working at an organic grocery store a block away from Drew’s house. She knew
she had to quit her job-- it was just another place holder... like Drew, something she had felt
conformable with and settled for. As she walked into the store she was greeted by her favorite co-
worker, Sherry. Sherry was a recovering crack addict and had been clean for over 25 years.
She and Reece had found companionship with each other. They spent most of their shifts
making fun of people buying over-priced organic food in a gentrifying city.
Sherry: Reece! My friend how is it going? You look down; what's going on?
Reece: I finally ended it with Drew. It's just a little emotional and this job reminds me of how I felt
when being with him. I think I’m going to quit today.
Sherry hugs Reece and steps back a little. They are facing each other.
Sherry: Ah, I’m happy for you, my friend. I know you did the right thing. That whole Drew mess
was tearing you apart. You look so much stronger.
Reece: Thanks but I don’t feel very strong.
Sherry grabs Reece’s chin with her index finger and pulls her bowed head up.
Sherry: I know... but you are stronger ... trust me.
Reece feels a wave of emotions that take her over. She picks up the intercom phone.
Reece: Bobby to the front of the store please, over and out.
The call rings through the empty store and she sees Bobby slowly walking up aisle five. Before Bobby
can even reach her checkout stand, she blurts out:
Reece: I quit, Bobby.
Bobby: Hahaha nice one!
Reece: No, I’m serious .... I quit.
Bobby: Why? Did something happen?
Reece: No, it’s just time to move on.
Bobby: Damn ok.
Bobby goes in to hug Reece and they hug each other for a long 10 seconds.
Reece looks over at Sherry who is eating ribs she “sampled” from the hot food department,
smiling.
Sherry: I am so proud of you!
Reece: Thank you Sherry, you are like a second grandmother to me. You were the joy of this
entire butthole place. Sorry Bobby!
Bobby: Haha don’t trip.
Reece: I have never laughed so much with a co-worker, Sherry. I love you.
Sherry: I love you too my friend!
Scene II Tuesday April 18, 2017
It had been 13 months since the breakup and Reece made plans for a date that night. She's excited and
leaves the house in a giddy mood. The next morning Reece wakes up not knowing where she is, and is naked.
Reece: What happened?
Guy: We had a lot of fun didn’t we?
Reece: What?
Reece stumbles out of the bed and rushes to put on her clothes. She returns home and has the most intense shooting pain in her stomach. She's never felt this way before, and laying on the bathroom tiles, she weeps and begins to feel a dark spirt hovering over her body. For the next two weeks Reece tries not to think about what happened that night. Reece goes out to a kickback the following week.
Reece: Oh, hey Alex! long time no see! How are you?
Alex: Ha hah! I’m chillin.
Reece: What’s so funny?
Alex: Dude, I saw you like three weeks ago.
Reece: What ? Where ?
Alex: At the bar I work at downtown.
Reece: I’m sorry dude, I really don’t remember.
Alex: Dude, are you kidding me? You where on a date with some tall white guy. He went to the
restroom and we had like a 15 minute conversation.
Reece looks down in shock. She can no longer hide from the feeling that had been making her
sick for weeks.
Reece: Alex... do you have cameras in your bar ?
Alex: Yea, why?
Reece: That guy I went on a date with... I think he rufied me. I'd never met him before and I barely remember anything from that night. I remember somehow driving and swerving and him holding the wheel. I then remember him on top of me while I was nodding in and out. The next morning, I knew something bad had happened because of the amount of pain I was in. I was going to go to the hospital but I didn’t want to file charges.
Alex: Holy shit! Dude, I’m so sorry. Why the fuck don't you want to put this asshole in jail?
Scene III Saturday October 28,2017
For the next 6 months, Reece goes to one of the darkest places she has ever gone. She lost herself completely. She dated guys from "sugar-daddy" sites. She majored in STEM for the money, not following, her true passion. She worked for a topless maid company where she met child pedophiles looking for young women to dress like little girls. Reece thought by doing this she was sacrificing herself so that way underage girls who also worked for the company didn’t have to. It slowly ate at her like a vulture feasting on a warm dead carcass. Reece was sitting in her bathroom floor with letters to her loved ones and a box cutter in her hands. Prince's "Purple Rain" echoed from her bedroom. She finally understood why so many of her friends took that one-way trip. As she placed the box cutter to her wrist, her phone rang. It was one of her best friends who had ongoing issues with suicide. She reluctantly picked up the phone.
Reece: ... Hi Kate.
Kate: Hey, honey. Something told me to call you. I felt like I was never going to see you again, I know that sounds crazy but I needed to call you.
Reece in utter shock looks at the box cuter and tosses it across her room.
Reece: Wow.... Kate.... you have no idea the impact your phone call made.
Kate: I’m just finishing work. Lets meet at the Echo Park Lake, and I’m not taking no for an answer.
Scene IV Monday July 17, 2018
It has been over two years since Drew and Reece broke up. It has been over one year since Reece
was raped. She deleted her "Sugar Daddy" profile, stopped majoring in something she hated,
found stability as a stylist in Silver lake. She changed her major to English so she could write
sketch comedy and plays. She started going after what she really wanted in life. It was as if the
demons knew how strong and powerful she could radiate and tried whatever they could to take
her out of this world. Her aura began shining brighter than ever and every person she came in
contact with could feel it. She meets up with her best friend, Sarah. They're sitting in Reece's living
room.
Reece: Mara, I have never been happier with every aspect of my life. I am finally going after
what I truly want. Everything in my life is so serendipitous, it is as if being stronger than my
suicide teleported me into another dimension. I made the choice to not let him win; if I had gone
thru with it... I would have been the victim.
Mara: Yea, dude I have never seen you happier. You really are growing with acting, working and
being a full-time student. I don’t know how you do it, but you are the best thing in my life and I
love you. I know girl, sometimes on earth it's as if our most evil monsters are here. You and I
know all too well. How are things going with Ben?
Reece: They are going really well. I think it could turn into something beautiful and healthy.
Mara: I don’t know how you maintained staying so sane throughout everything you’ve been
though but I love you and am so grateful to have you in my life.
Reece: Baby I love you and am so thankful my life is filled with people like you. I am so lucky...
I am so grateful to be here.
Tuesday March 8 2016
Reece drove away leaving the superglue hold her newly ex boyfriend had had on her. The further she
drove away from his house that sucked her in like a tornado, the freer she felt. She was raised by
her grandmother who was her biggest role model and best friend. Reece’s grandmother was the
only thing she had in this life and like the demons that speak to us when we are lowest, they
always dangled that in front of her face. Having been with someone who gave her an unhealthy
amount of undivided love and attention and being able to walk away from that, raised the
vibration of her spirit.
As she drove to a place she didn’t associate as home, with all of her belongings from her ex’s
house, tears sprinted away from her eyes. She struggled to see the correct key to open her door.
Once finally opened, Reece let go of everything she was holding and stood at the front of the door.
She tried to collect herself and envisioned steel armor around her body as she powered in the
kitchen to get ready to defend her honor.
Reece’s mother was sitting in the kitchen listening to another YouTube, Christian, conspiracy
theorist video about how the government is slowly shutting down Wal Marts to build FEMA
camps. They had gone through so much together that their relationship was broken beyond
compare. So they put a band aid on top of the forever gushing wound, never addressing the pools
of blood on the floor.
Reece’s Mom: Are you ok?! You look like you have been crying!
Reece: Yea I’m ok ...I broke up with Drew
Reece’s Mom: WHAT! WHY? I love him and he’s so good for you. You guys have been
together for years! He loves you more than any other man could. Men like that don’t exist
everyday Reece. I think you need to rethink this.
Reece: Mom... it was unhealthy and codependent. I didn’t love him, I loved what he did for me...
when he would speak I wouldn’t listen. He would try to touch me every second when we where
together as a fear of losing me. I could feel his soul trying to latch onto mine in hopes of taking
him away from his problems., I love him as a person but I don’t think I was truly in love with
him. It was the idea of having a “perfect” boyfriend that I loved. I was Nora in “A Doll’s House.”
I lost an identity I never found. I’m not going back...
Reece’s Mom: You should really think about what you are doing. Everyone has the idea that the
grass is greener. Drew is a good guy and most men are not like that. Everyone wants excitement
and they have this grand idea of romance that isn’t present when having a long term relationship.
Reece: I’m not going to be with someone I am not in love with just because they treat me well.
The grass might be greener on the other side Mom but when you lift it up it’s all dirt. Our
relationship was way past due for this breakup and I wish you would just support me. I think
your choice of men has made you jaded.... I don’t think its fair for you to give me relationship
advice given your history.
Reece’s Mom: I just want what’s best for you. You're right -- I don’t have the best taste in men,
but I know a good guy when I see one.
Reece: If you really wanted what’s best for me you would stop projecting your own fears onto
my relationships. I have to head out; I’ll see you later.
Reece’s Mom: Where are you going? We are having a serious conversation!
Reece: To the gym.
Reece’s Mom: Well, what are you going to do?
Reece stands up from the kitchen table and heads to her room to put on her gym clothes.
Her door is slightly open allowing her to hear her mother's question. Once she is done changing
she goes into the living room with her gym bag and a day-old water.
Reece: Do about what?
Reece’s Mom: About the break up? You guys were together every day, you practically lived
together. What are you going to do now?
Reece: What am I going to do? I am going to focus on myself and do things that make me
happy like healthy people do.
Reece had been working at an organic grocery store a block away from Drew’s house. She knew
she had to quit her job-- it was just another place holder... like Drew, something she had felt
conformable with and settled for. As she walked into the store she was greeted by her favorite co-
worker, Sherry. Sherry was a recovering crack addict and had been clean for over 25 years.
She and Reece had found companionship with each other. They spent most of their shifts
making fun of people buying over-priced organic food in a gentrifying city.
Sherry: Reece! My friend how is it going? You look down; what's going on?
Reece: I finally ended it with Drew. It's just a little emotional and this job reminds me of how I felt
when being with him. I think I’m going to quit today.
Sherry hugs Reece and steps back a little. They are facing each other.
Sherry: Ah, I’m happy for you, my friend. I know you did the right thing. That whole Drew mess
was tearing you apart. You look so much stronger.
Reece: Thanks but I don’t feel very strong.
Sherry grabs Reece’s chin with her index finger and pulls her bowed head up.
Sherry: I know... but you are stronger ... trust me.
Reece feels a wave of emotions that take her over. She picks up the intercom phone.
Reece: Bobby to the front of the store please, over and out.
The call rings through the empty store and she sees Bobby slowly walking up aisle five. Before Bobby
can even reach her checkout stand, she blurts out:
Reece: I quit, Bobby.
Bobby: Hahaha nice one!
Reece: No, I’m serious .... I quit.
Bobby: Why? Did something happen?
Reece: No, it’s just time to move on.
Bobby: Damn ok.
Bobby goes in to hug Reece and they hug each other for a long 10 seconds.
Reece looks over at Sherry who is eating ribs she “sampled” from the hot food department,
smiling.
Sherry: I am so proud of you!
Reece: Thank you Sherry, you are like a second grandmother to me. You were the joy of this
entire butthole place. Sorry Bobby!
Bobby: Haha don’t trip.
Reece: I have never laughed so much with a co-worker, Sherry. I love you.
Sherry: I love you too my friend!
Scene II Tuesday April 18, 2017
It had been 13 months since the breakup and Reece made plans for a date that night. She's excited and
leaves the house in a giddy mood. The next morning Reece wakes up not knowing where she is, and is naked.
Reece: What happened?
Guy: We had a lot of fun didn’t we?
Reece: What?
Reece stumbles out of the bed and rushes to put on her clothes. She returns home and has the most intense shooting pain in her stomach. She's never felt this way before, and laying on the bathroom tiles, she weeps and begins to feel a dark spirt hovering over her body. For the next two weeks Reece tries not to think about what happened that night. Reece goes out to a kickback the following week.
Reece: Oh, hey Alex! long time no see! How are you?
Alex: Ha hah! I’m chillin.
Reece: What’s so funny?
Alex: Dude, I saw you like three weeks ago.
Reece: What ? Where ?
Alex: At the bar I work at downtown.
Reece: I’m sorry dude, I really don’t remember.
Alex: Dude, are you kidding me? You where on a date with some tall white guy. He went to the
restroom and we had like a 15 minute conversation.
Reece looks down in shock. She can no longer hide from the feeling that had been making her
sick for weeks.
Reece: Alex... do you have cameras in your bar ?
Alex: Yea, why?
Reece: That guy I went on a date with... I think he rufied me. I'd never met him before and I barely remember anything from that night. I remember somehow driving and swerving and him holding the wheel. I then remember him on top of me while I was nodding in and out. The next morning, I knew something bad had happened because of the amount of pain I was in. I was going to go to the hospital but I didn’t want to file charges.
Alex: Holy shit! Dude, I’m so sorry. Why the fuck don't you want to put this asshole in jail?
Scene III Saturday October 28,2017
For the next 6 months, Reece goes to one of the darkest places she has ever gone. She lost herself completely. She dated guys from "sugar-daddy" sites. She majored in STEM for the money, not following, her true passion. She worked for a topless maid company where she met child pedophiles looking for young women to dress like little girls. Reece thought by doing this she was sacrificing herself so that way underage girls who also worked for the company didn’t have to. It slowly ate at her like a vulture feasting on a warm dead carcass. Reece was sitting in her bathroom floor with letters to her loved ones and a box cutter in her hands. Prince's "Purple Rain" echoed from her bedroom. She finally understood why so many of her friends took that one-way trip. As she placed the box cutter to her wrist, her phone rang. It was one of her best friends who had ongoing issues with suicide. She reluctantly picked up the phone.
Reece: ... Hi Kate.
Kate: Hey, honey. Something told me to call you. I felt like I was never going to see you again, I know that sounds crazy but I needed to call you.
Reece in utter shock looks at the box cuter and tosses it across her room.
Reece: Wow.... Kate.... you have no idea the impact your phone call made.
Kate: I’m just finishing work. Lets meet at the Echo Park Lake, and I’m not taking no for an answer.
Scene IV Monday July 17, 2018
It has been over two years since Drew and Reece broke up. It has been over one year since Reece
was raped. She deleted her "Sugar Daddy" profile, stopped majoring in something she hated,
found stability as a stylist in Silver lake. She changed her major to English so she could write
sketch comedy and plays. She started going after what she really wanted in life. It was as if the
demons knew how strong and powerful she could radiate and tried whatever they could to take
her out of this world. Her aura began shining brighter than ever and every person she came in
contact with could feel it. She meets up with her best friend, Sarah. They're sitting in Reece's living
room.
Reece: Mara, I have never been happier with every aspect of my life. I am finally going after
what I truly want. Everything in my life is so serendipitous, it is as if being stronger than my
suicide teleported me into another dimension. I made the choice to not let him win; if I had gone
thru with it... I would have been the victim.
Mara: Yea, dude I have never seen you happier. You really are growing with acting, working and
being a full-time student. I don’t know how you do it, but you are the best thing in my life and I
love you. I know girl, sometimes on earth it's as if our most evil monsters are here. You and I
know all too well. How are things going with Ben?
Reece: They are going really well. I think it could turn into something beautiful and healthy.
Mara: I don’t know how you maintained staying so sane throughout everything you’ve been
though but I love you and am so grateful to have you in my life.
Reece: Baby I love you and am so thankful my life is filled with people like you. I am so lucky...
I am so grateful to be here.
Acacia-Breeze Arnold is an actress, comedian, writer, philosopher and student. Born and raised in Los Angeles, her grandmother lived in South Pasadena and father lived in Echo Park. Each gave her two different social settings: the boogie and the hood, which gave her a unique outlook on society. At the age of nine, her mother, little sister and her piled in their jeep and lived in their car like gypsies; she started working at the age of ten. She describes her life as surreal due to the amount of serendipitous events that occur daily. She is a big believer in the law of attraction as well as self-manifestating. Her writing has been described as dark, philosophical, emotional and uplifting. Her main goal is to create relief through comedy and writing for those who are suffering. She believes self expression is the biggest freedom and aims to create revolutionary art.