A Nearly Normal Family

by M.T. Edvardsson

It takes a long time to build a life, but only an instant for it to crumble. It takes many years—decades, maybe a lifetime—to become the person you truly are. The path is almost always circuitous, and I think there’s a reason for that, for life to be built around trial and error. We are shaped and created by our trials.

In the end I had no choice but to become that good girl everyone was expecting.”

I’d never thought I would advise anyone, much less my own child, not to file a police report, not to trust the system, not to let justice take its course, but now that I was starting to understand what would be demanded from Stella, what she would be forced to endure, I found that I had to reconsider.

It’s much easier to hide something when you give the impression of being transparent.

“It started happening when we were around twenty-five. People were suddenly so damn boring. Every day is the same, they do the same things, watch the same TV shows, listen to the same podcasts, eat the same food, go to the same gym, follow the same Instagram accounts, and have the exact same opinions about everything.”

“Many people are frightened of the fact that reality is changeable. People seek security in their lives. So a person might feel that they’re in control when they have the chance to predict what will happen, and when they can make good decisions based on solid knowledge.”

People are prepared to put aside everything in the way of ethics and morals to protect their families. The most rigid of principles can be easily pulverized when it comes to defending your own child. Lies, guilt, and secrets.

Maybe sometimes all it takes to believe you’re in love is being appreciated and valued. Being seen for who you are, admired for your existence rather than your actions.