interactions with
the family of several
relationships past,
understanding, finally, that
what I thought were
looks of disdain or dislike
were really actually
pity
and
compassion.
They knew
all too well
what my future would be -
the pain, the lies, the betrayals
the oft-witnessed chaos and endings.
They also knew that
there was no point
in attempting to
warn or enlighten me
about what was coming.
I wouldn't have listened anyway.
But now I see the reality:
they didn't dislike me
they wished they could save or protect me
from the one that they did dislike
but knowing that
they could do nothing about
either end of
the equation.