The year that was

The year 2012 was full of revelations – about myself and about people I called my own. My daughter’s birth almost a year ago set in motion a series of incidents that left me bitter, full of rage and cynical. While I struggled to take care of my girl, deal with ailments and settle down in a new country, my extended family ensured that I sank emotionally. I have been through enough quarrels, borne enough insult, been shocked enough, and cried enough as people denied what horrible things they said. I might not be the most perfect being, but I am fair and decent enough. I have never badmouthed anyone (until now), never played dirty games, and never been disrespectful to elders. But when you are forced to listen to insults against your family, be manipulated for everything you say, be taken advantage of because you do not know how to hit back, expected to compromise for the sake of peace at home – something breaks and something changes. I have had enough. Enough of the doormat treatment! I still do not know how to end it, but I am not going to take it anymore.