Young Isis Gonzalez told her mother that one of her dreams was to have a quinceañera—a special celebration for her 15th birthday.
But that dream disintegrated a month later when her mom shot her stepfather. That was in 1991—the same year Isis turned 15.
Isis says her mom, Paulina, was hardworking but had a drinking problem. Paulina’s marriage to Isis’ stepfather was her third, and there was lots of physical abuse. “There were bruises on her arms the day she shot him to death,” Isis remembers.
She had seen other family members go to jail for misdemeanors, but when your mom goes to prison, it upends your whole life.
