He was a precious, perfectly formed
baby, entering the world with a full head of dark hair and deep brown eyes that
seemed to display a sort of maturity and wisdom. His sweet innocence didn’t remain long,
however. As he observed and listened and
experienced what was happening around him, he soon understood that the world in
which he lived was a dangerous, unreliable place.
Because his home was chaotic, and he
never knew for sure what would happen next, he learned that life is unpredictable,
and he shouldn’t get his hopes up. It’s
best to never, ever have any expectations.
When he was sad or hurt, it wasn’t
sympathy or comfort he received; the adults in his life became impatient and
angry with his display of tears. He
learned to never, ever cry.
At nighttime, he knew that his father
did terrifying, unmentionable things to his sister in the room next door. His mother did nothing to stop it from
happening; she was unable or unwilling to protect her daughter. The boy learned to never, ever trust
adults. Somehow, even in his young mind,
he realized that it was up to him to be strong and in control if he hoped to
survive.
