Family
I've learned what my parents did to me. While instructing me to defend myself against the outside world, they were taking the worst advantage of me. They instructed me that it's not right for people to treat me badly, to treat them bad back, but they NEVER could own up to their own mistreatment of me or my brother. They demanded “respect” or rather the option not to face their children's emotions head-on even though they were guilty of beginning them. What lesson have I been taught? It is alright for family to take advantage of your emotions, to treat you like garbage if they want... because they're blood relations.
As a terrible result, I accepted less than dignified interactions with people I really wanted to be close with. Sometimes, I let them mindfuck me, sometimes I mindfucked myself. This is what I thought: the closer you get to someone, the more abuses you should allow, right?
Wrong. I don't blame him anymore either; we were both victims. That's why we stick together and team up at the oddest of times.
Parents really don't understand the potential they hold for ________ their children. For the first time in a long time, I don't feel it's poison to speak up. They taught me that. I learned to be scared even though that wasn't me.