Forget tiptoeing on egg shells around you. It’s more like stomping on broken glass. As much as I try to skirt the issue, telling you I don’t want to talk about it anymore, you continue to poke that bruise.
He made his decision, and you have to recognize what it is and acknowledge neither of us, at this point in our lives, are likely to change. Trying to get me to be the conciliatory one, to pretend there are no insults, no disrespect, is no longer hurtful. It’s maddening.
Were he anyone else you would be incredulous that I put up with his disdain. You would counsel me to change jobs if a boss or co-worker were so difficult, or divorce an emotionally abusive spouse. Just because we share DNA doesn’t mean I have to accept his behavior. This is no longer my problem, it’s yours and it’s his.
If you fear his retribution, or rejection, should you defend me, if you worry that he will withdraw his attention and affection… consider that continuing to put me in situations that are psychologically toxic, you threaten our relationship, and the closeness you have with my family.
You need to respect my requests to stop inserting yourself into this estrangement. You can’t fix it, no matter how much you want to, or how hard you pray, you’re only making it worse. Perhaps instead you should pray for acceptance
Trifecta, a weekly one-word prompt, challenges writers to use that word in its third definition form, using no less than 33 words or no more than 333.
The week’s prompt is: Skirt [verb\skurt] 3: to go or pass around or about; specifically to go around or keep away from in order to avoid danger or discovery.
Thin spiral notebook 
This was so eerie…I felt like you were speaking from my mouth. Flashback about 10 years and all hell broke loose in my family surrounding the drama that is my brother. At least I don’t have to worry about the whole DNA thing (he was adopted).
I find out about things long after the fact, I have no real relationship with my brother, I barely know my niece and nephew. But I’m okay with it. Thankfully my parents don’t try to push is to be all buddy-buddy.
But seriously, your brother has some major issues if he doesn’t want you to know anything about his life. I’d say you are better off without him in your life, as much as that hurts and how difficult it will be to handle.
Great piece of writing.
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Very emotive writing, as the comments before mine clearly show. It seems that we all have an open wound of resentment and anger somewhere in our families. The holiday season always dumps salt on it, doesn’t it?
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I think you are one of the strongest and bravest people I know.
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Wow, your post made read the other post “his decision” I’m always amazed how siblings from the same parents, some upbringing can turn out so differently. My brother is also very private and for many reasons we have a very strained relationship.
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Tara. Tara. Tara.
I love the you that you have become, or perhaps just the you that you are now showing.
Beautiful soul, beautiful images, powerful, moving, wonderful.
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so very well said, my friend.
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sigh – this is so truthful it hurts. Thanks for sharing your words.
(If you fear his retribution, or rejection, should you defend me, if you worry that he will withdrawal his attention and affection) should be “withdraw” – my only suggestion – although I do like Lance’s 🙂
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Yeah. Family. I think we ALL have something like this going on somewhere within the tree of “Family” – and there’s always someone who wants to “Fix it”. Fuck it up, is more like it.
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Oh gosh. The writing was beautiful as always, but the situation is just…sucky. Beyond sucky. I’m sorry that you are being pressured to “rise up” and be the “bigger person”. You can only bang your head against a wall so many times before you get a permanent injury. 😦
(((Hugs)))
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Can I just change pronouns, and maybe 2 personal details and email this to a relative of mine?
This is the kind of emotional powerkeg so many of us with family dramaz feel.
Excellent delivery and prompt use. I love it.
and….if you wanted you could use Annie Lennox’s Walking on Broken Glass as a soundtrack…
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