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Charlotte was born in a small hospital in Milan, Italy
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Charlotte's father was alcoholic before her mother finally filed for a divorce. But in the divorce papers, she didn't mention he was alcoholic. She was scared of getting him in trouble.
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After the divorce, her mother stayed in Italy, while her father took her and her sister to America. Charlotte's brother stayed with her mother.
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Charlotte's sister, Katherine, was diagnosed with stage 3 brain cancer
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After Charlotte's sister was diagnosed with cancer, her father realized he would not be able to take care of them, so he sent them to live with their aunt
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Her father struggled for years with alcoholism. He died of alcohol poisoning.
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After her father died, it sent Charlotte into a sort of depression, after losing her sister and now her father. So, she started seeing a therapist to help cope.
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Charlotte always wanted to learn how to play an instrument, and she finally started playing the piano when she was 9. This was also used as a coping mechanism.
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Her therapist recommended that she go out into the world, and get away from her house for a little bit.
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This made Charlotte very nervous. She wasn't ready for the change.
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A highlight of Charlotte's life, she finally went to high school. She was excited because now, she could be treated like an adult.
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This is important because she started to discover some of her interests.
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Charlotte found out that she had a brother still in Italy, and she tried to get more information about him.
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After some research, and persuading her aunt, Charlotte went to Italy to find her long lost brother.
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While on her trip visiting her brother, she finds out that her mother died a couple of years earlier.
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On her 16th birthday, Charlotte gets her liscense. This gives her a sense of freedom.
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She convinces her brother to come and see her in America, and to try and apply for citizenship
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Charlotte just turned 18, and her brother is of legal age. After he becomes a citizen, she moves in with him.