Violence from "summary" of The Liars' Club by Mary Karr
"Violence was a backdrop to our lives, like wallpaper. It was always there, lingering in the corners of our home, waiting to erupt at any moment. It wasn't just physical violence, although there was plenty of that. It was the emotional violence, the verbal abuse that cut deeper than any bruise ever could. It was the constant tension, the fear that gripped us every time we heard raised voices or slammed doors.
Growing up in a household filled with violence, it became normal to us. We learned to tiptoe around our father when he was in a rage, to avoid setting him off at all costs. We became experts at reading his moods, knowing when to stay silent and when to try to appease him. We lived in a constant state of alert, always on edge, never knowing what might trigger the next outburst.
Violence wasn't just confined to our home, either. It followed us wherever we went, staining our interactions with others. We carried the weight of our family's dysfunction on our shoulders, never quite able to shake it off. It colored our relationships, our outlook on the world, our very sense of self.
Even now, as an adult, I can still feel the shadow of that violence hanging over me. It's a part of who I am, shaped me in ways I can't fully comprehend. It's a legacy that I carry with me, a burden that I can never fully escape. Violence may have been a constant presence in my life, but I refuse to let it define me. I will not be a victim of my past, but a survivor, a fighter. And maybe, just maybe, I can break the cycle of violence that has plagued my family for generations."
