David was cultured,
like a pearl with the
entire world inside him.
I was his carbon—
not a diamond—
but a faded copy.

As a child, I saw things as concrete.
As a teenager, I saw things as abstract.
As an adult, I saw them as I wanted to see them.

His knowledge attracted me,
his talent inspired me,
his passion for beauty excited me,
his food nourished me,
his words spiritually uplifted me.

David was my priest,
in whom I confessed my love;
my Prophet, who painted my future
with even brushstrokes;
my King, the ruler of my body.

The female students loved David,
the male students wanted to be him.
I was the lucky one,
for he loved me back,
& had made me like him.

Logline for Because of Mindy Wiley:  An Irish-Catholic girl coming of age in the Deep South during the New Millennium finds her family splintered when two Mormon missionaries come to her door, their presence and promise unearthing long-buried family secrets, which lead to her excommunication and exile.