Member-only story
Silent Rules
From the Master Manipulator.
They weren’t spoken, they were implied.
My “deliberate” disobedience resulting in days of silence.
They weren’t obvious.
In retrospect, they were jaw dropping.
But to me,
At that time,
They were normal.
“Don’t park too close, we have to get our steps in.”
It’s a simple statement.
Interpreted gently.
Until it’s an argument.
Until it ends with you pointing out my flaws.
My thighs are too big.
My stomach is bloated.
My cheeks are getting fat.
All for a quick trip to the store.
Because we were out of chicken.
Not for me.
But for you.
Three days into freedom and I can still feel the drop in my stomach, my brother pulled into a spot right in front of the restaurant, “wait we can park here?” I said.
Confused, and looking for a sign that said otherwise, my brother replied
“yea… why not?”
“Because it’s so close!!
Oh my gosh, I wasn’t allowed to park this close, that was another rule…”
Stunned, we sat in silence for a moment.
Awestruck at what I had been through.
Realizing that “normal” felt this crazy.
