Forced Awareness

Since her teenage years, I would sometimes feel that something was a bit awry about my child’s behavior, but kept confusing it for typical hormonal changes. She was awkwardly shy around others, which reminded me much of her father…minus his hostility. But that was as far as my thoughts would go…nothing too serious. “She just needed to come out of her shell more”- I thought in a brief moment while busy working. My daughter used to be happy-go-lucky, talkative, and outgoing; until about 2 years...

One night as I unwound with a glass of wine and an edible, I took notice that something was amiss from my daughter’s story about her being employed at a new restaurant. As she prepared to leave for what she stated a 3rd shift position as a barback, it looked as if she’d prepared for a performance of some sort. The foundation makeup on her face was unusually caked on and considerably lighter than her natural skin tone. Since she was younger, Mai had a knack for skincare and makeup artistry....

It was a rough year in 2022 for myself and my daughter, Mai, who had just turned 21. Towards the end of summer in 2021, Mai hastily moved from my mother's home after a spurt of anger...overall due to them having to move into a new home. Mai had been living with my mom, my youngest brother (Chris), and my mom's distant cousin, who had just temporarily moved in around June 2021 after relocating from Atlanta, Georgia. As Mai quickly packed her belongings into a moving truck, my eldest brother...