This reminded me of when my sister said, “Despite what he did, he is still your father”.

At that time, I felt even more alone and scarred. It is as though my anger was invalid because of his sullied title within our home. Like it is my obligation to be hurt even as a child who was ever too young to unravel the falsehood of our family. For them, his sins weigh lighter than my sufferings. They enslaved me to forced forgiveness, as they condone the heaviness of his faults.

It is sickening to live in a house that teaches you nothing else but numbness.