In the Heart of a Holler Girl

By Gabriella Page

What is it about our life that defines who we are and what we become? Often at times, others often wonder why we are the way we are or why we feel so passionately about something. People are so quick to pass judgement without knowing the secrets and darkness that lie deep within our hearts and soul. Secrets that for the good of those around us, we tend to hide deep within. We close our feelings off from the world, and force a smile because that is what society deems as normal. There is nothing normal about what I have been through. My name is Gabriella Page, and I am no longer afraid to be me. This book is my story, real and true to its entirety. For years I have searched blindly through the darkness for a ray of hope. Hope, it sounds amazing; it is not something that I have come by that easily throughout my life. For when I did, I was usually swept off my feet by betrayal. Betrayal, something that I know all too well. Come with me and share that laughter, heartache, and tears as the story unwinds and is told about a little holler girl—me —going through some of the most trying and difficult times one could ever face. I am no longer afraid and want to conceal the truth. I am ready for my story to be told. With my head held high and the secrets of my heart finally yearning to be told, I open up my heart and my past. There is so much to be told that has been hidden in the heart of this holler girl, and so it begins . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9781635685824

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In the Heart

of a Holler Girl

Gabriella Page

Copyright © 2017 Gabriella Page

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

New York, NY

First originally published by Page Publishing, Inc. 2017

ISBN 978-1-63568-581-7 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63568-582-4 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

In loving memory of Frank Urconis and Donnie Gene Miller

Preface

I can feel it as if it were only yesterday. I could hear the giggles of us children as we splashed through the creek below my house. Not a care in the world and with each new day bringing a new exploration of some quest went on in my childhood. Summers always consisted of explorin’, crawdad huntin’, and car washin’ on Sundays with my cousins and Grandpa Gene. I remember Momma would always dare us to come home soaked, and we all but tried to honor her request, but my grandpa simply just had too much fun with his grandbabies. Coming home totally drenched, my momma would be so upset; but even she could not resist the smile on my grandpa’s face, especially when he would say his famous Now, Mom speech. My grandpa Miller was a tall and bright-looking man with his hair as white as snow, and the most joyful crinkle would come to his eyes whenever he spent time with his grandkids.

The sheer innocence that came with each of my summer days as a child always brings a twinkle in my eye and a smile to my face. I remember building forts with sheets, TGIF and four wheeler riding. In the life of a little holler girl, life was always sweet and simple and filled with long hot summer days and precious memories. Little did I know what awaited me.

With the years of innocence fading, womanhood and my darkness were closing in and growing nearer and nearer. There are so many secrets and adventures in the heart of this holler girl; some of which you will laugh, and some you will cry. I am opening my heart and letting you in, and so with that being said, my adventures begin.

In the Beginning

It’s cold in here, Steve. We need to dress her in something warmer, my momma exclaimed as she picked me up from my crib and wrapped another blanket around me.

As a baby not even at the age of a year, my momma and daddy started out with nothing, but the love between them and a dream for something bigger. We lived in a little old single-wide trailer, and the trailer walls were so thin that when the wind blew, they felt drafts, and the paneling from the trailer walls would buckle and bow. With no stove to cook on, Momma would have to warm our meals and my bottle on a hot plate in the kitchen, which took several hours just to knock the chill off a can of chicken noodle soup. My daddy knew that we couldn’t live like that for very long, so he went to his daddy, who got him a job in the coal mines.

It wasn’t long after Daddy was working that he finally saved the money to get us a house. As he and Momma stood there arm in arm and holding each other, they looked at the torn and broken house and smiled because all they could see is potential. Daddy took that old broken-down house, and with each nail that was borne into the wood, Daddy made Momma’s dreams come true. After working on that house, he hugged Momma and said, Baby girl, it’s finished. Now let’s make this a home. It wasn’t long after that, my little brother, Chris, came into the picture. With the hard work of Daddy’s two hands, he had built us the home that will forever live in my heart. The home where I spent my time filled with laughter, broken hearts, Daddy’s whippens and Momma’s cooking. In my heart, that house will forever be the place I call home.

A Beloved Easter Adventure

Come on, Gabby, hurry let’s go! my brother called out as we ran outside. It was Easter, and we had just opened the candies in our Easter baskets. My brother was younger than me and was so full of energy. He bounced around happily as he shoved another piece of a peep into his mouth. With his little chubby cheeks bulging out from all of the candies, he managed to choke out, It’s time to hunt the eggs!

I’m coming, bubby! I exclaimed so excitedly that I nearly tripped trying to run down the porch steps and into the yard. I knew that time was precious as my daddy always hid prize money eggs, and I desperately wanted to save my winnings for a new bike.

I remember that day my brother ended up finding almost all of those eggs. My daddy hid them so well that he told Momma to remind him the next year to write down the places where he had hidden them. We never did find all of those Easter eggs, but would you believe that my baby brother shared some of the money eggs with me? Although I did not have enough to get my bike, I hugged my brother and then we broke out into a huge water fight. And by filling our baskets to the rim and drowning each other, we had a wonderful Easter day. And with all of the giggles out loud from us kids playing, the holler was filled with the joyful noise of us children playing.

A few weeks later, I remember my pawpaw Frank calling and asking my momma to bring me over. As we pulled into the driveway, I saw from a distance something being covered, and my grandpa was standing beside the covered, mysterious object. As I jumped out of the car and ran over to him, he threw his strong arms around me and gave me a huge bear hug. Pawpaw and Mawmaw has something for you, he said with excitement in his voice.

My eyes grew bigger and bigger as he reached