I death triggered my mom, and my dad too.
And oh yeah, my younger sister.

I didn’t mean to.

The fact that I existed consistently terrified them.

Dad was so scared,

he didn’t show up at my birth.
He ran and hid in a dark movie theatre instead.

That extra triggered mom. She never forgave him for doing this

-leaving her alone in fear of me.
I wonder what movie he was watching to try and distract his sheer dread?

——

Being born to live for years between and with highly death anxious parents,

and sister,

I developed a strategy of remaining calm.

They were easily spooked animals.

Lizard reptiles with spikes along their spines

long sharp claws and long whipping tails

effectively used for keeping me

-an intelligently gifted child

coldly distant and far enough away from them.
Only close enough to Keep Up Appearances.

©️January 2025 Much Love, Deb Poems

https://www.hoagiesgifted.org