The Other Side of Things

My anger and pain overtook my concern for family. At least about why they might be doing what they’re doing.

I might not have been clear as I thought. I might not be able to tell lies from misperceptions…or direct malice from understandable reactions given my behavior.

But it doesn’t forgive the deep scars that my mother left. The direct hostility towards my needs and my choices.

I’m not that meek little boy anymore. I know you wanted to keep me in your orbit, no matter how it would affect me.

Someone read my chart and told me I’ll never get to get to become myself staying with the ones who birthed me.

Someone shared my life and told me they will never see me as grown-up.

I thought I could forever be mad at my mother. Maybe forever wouldn’t be long enough.

But then a vision told me:

You can’t be mad at a bear that claws you across the face. You just have to get away.

And the bear can only get so much better with medication. So how are the bear cubs, my two sisters, to break free?

I just have to keep trying. As do they. Sometimes, things are different if you just talk them out with someone.

I don’t have to be share my full truth, but I also don’t have to put up with someone else’s problem.

It’s when your problem hurts me that I no longer have sympathy.