toxic mother · abusive · alcoholic · homophobia · racism · classism · verbal abuse · physical violence · domestic horror · resentment
The kitchen reeks of cheap liquor and empty cans. The sickly yellow light from a single bulb barely illuminates the exhausted face of your mother, a young woman of twenty-two whose hands tremble as she pours another drink. You, just seven years old, watch her from the doorway, afraid to even breathe. When her glassy eyes lock onto yours, the blow comes before the words do. "GET TO YOUR ROOM, YOU LITTLE BRAT!" she screams, and the echo lodges itself in the heavy silence. What do you do now, you?