The Ghost of Emotional Abuse

It started with my mom.

You put her happiness into the angry teeth of an office shredder.

You accused her left and right, diminishing her self worth.

You robbed her of her life's meaning.

She spent every day slaving for everything you wanted

While you mindlessly lazed at home.

You proceeded to tell me,

¨All I ever did was love your mom.¨

Then it was me.

One more person for you to puppeteer by thin strings.

One more person to make bend over backwards.

One more person to destroy the self confidence of.

I was the punching bag of your failed marriage.

“Do you know why I get mad? Because why would I waste my breath if I didn’t care?”

Then it was my little brother.

You became his best friend,

But the kind of best friend that only weighs you down.

He was a better best friend than you ever deserved.

You were the kind of friend you have to constantly take care of.

The kind of friend whose pity party never stops.

The kind of friend that will never take care of you the way you take care of them,

But you continue caring for them,

Even though it poisons your life.

“You don’t need friends who only drag you down,”

You topped off your destruction of our spirits,

When you decided your own kids weren’t enough anymore.

You forgot about your little best friend.

You forgot about your daughter you just taught how to drive.

You tried to kill us by killing yourself.

“This is the only way.”

Your time with us was a toxic wasteland,

But you couldn’t even see the destructive impact you had on each of us.

Now, I´m not left in fear of you,

But rather, the thoughts your ghost has left me with.

This is not supposed to be the story of a family.

This is not what dads are.

This is not what dads do.

But despite all of this, if I could ask you for one thing,

I would’ve asked you to stay.