The Happy Child

You had a happy childhood.

Your requests were rarely met with a no,

your affection always reciprocated.

Hobbies abandoned and adopted,

always encouraged,

always allowed.

Not too strict,

Not too smothered,

Not too unloved.

Fights and arguments and thrown glasses,

broken plates and cut hands,

late night ripped from your bed and into a car.

Visits to the hospital with no explanation,

a parent absent, the other not present,

temporarily yes,

but absent still.

Threats of suicide and separation and competition for your affection,

The favourite wins.

You had everything you wanted,

a bad few years is not a bad life.

Be grateful,

be good,

be sensible,

be serious.

You were protected,

you didn’t see the arguing,

you didn’t stand between us as we fought and threatened and screamed and hit…

Did you?

Trauma is for traumatised children,

you were a loved child.

You had a happy childhood.

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