who am I

Donnette Eileen.
Since birth I have carried those two names.
Two months after I turned 18 I traded Ellis for Bondurant.

God's beloved child.
Since before I was born God has loved me.
It wasn't until I was 17 that I began to understand what that means.

this evening as I think about who I am
I reflect on who I have been,
where I have found my identity

daddy's girl
big sister to Charles, Gregory, David
Bill's girlfriend
Bill's fiancee
Bill's wife
mommy to Elizabeth, Sarah, Deborah, Jonathan, Andrew, Ruth
mother-in-law
grandma 
Bill's widow

These are all terms I have used to introduce myself. 
Since Bill's death it has often been through tears.
Lately I have been doing something new.

It feels unnatural.
Incomplete. 
"Hello, I am Donnette."

I am learning and experiencing
that I am complete as Donnette. Period.
No other identifiers necessary to validate who I am.