Sublime

The dismal self-loathing.

The difficulty regulating my emotions.

I couldn’t tell which parts were pathologically problematic and which were fine as they were.

Growing up, my father was the smartest kid in the small tin-mining town of Ipoh.

The only thing I remember vividly is that clear plastic ruler on my palm.

we are talking about the prevalence of child abuse in a community,

“How can things be okay when you keep making me look bad?” she screeched.

I was not a girl. I was his caretaker.