The living room was hostility's epitome,
a battle ground for verbal warfare.
It was toxicity to me,
while the fear of being present was just the coupling quality.
"Afraid" was only crossing my mind,
blending into the couch cushion was my strategy.
Unwelcome in my own home came to be the assumed thought,
backed with the dissatisfaction and inadequacy everyone put upon me.
No leeway to prosper,
and absolutely not a chance to live normally.

-Michael Rucker