The Cage of Motherly Love
Chapter 1
My classmates bullied me. My mom called me
a worthless piece of shit.
I was at the end of my rope, so I tried to kill
myself. I was depressed.
Dad got me out of school, but my three
uncles flipped out.
“You spoiled her rotten, that’s why she’s so
dramatic,” one sneered.
“Hang her upside down on the balcony and
let her starve for three days,” another
suggested.
I begged them to stop, but my family ignored
- me.
“It’s for your own good,” Mom said,
explaining everything away.
After I lay injured on the floor, unable to care
for my little brother, resulting in him getting
burned and scarred, I finally felt a kind of
<
release.
“Mom, am I only not worthless when I’m
dead?”
- 1.
“Dad, Mom, I’m gonna die, please put me
down…”
Hanging upside down was excruciating. My
head was pounding, my eyes were killing me,
and I felt like I was suffocating.
“See? She’s already begging!”
“All this depression, all this talk about suicide
-bullshit!”
My uncles laughed, their drinks sloshing,
completely ignoring my pleas.
“You’re too soft on her, that’s the problem,”
one of them said.
“Hang her on the balcony. Don’t be soft; keep
her there for at least three days and nights.”
My dad looked worried, his brow furrowed.
“Is…is that safe?” he stammered.
<
Mom waved him off dismissively.
“They know what they’re doing. Listen to the
experts.”
Uncle Mike chuckled.
“I’m a school disciplinarian. I’ve seen kids like
this before. They lie about depression just to
skip school. It’s all a bunch of drama!”
Uncle Mark nodded.
“Exactly! I work in the psych ward. Everyone
has mental health issues–depression,
anxiety. It’s just part of life.
دو
Uncle Joe took a long drag of his cigarette.
“You gotta learn from me. My son tried to
skip school last year. I broke his leg, and he’s
been an angel ever since. My daughter ran
away, too. I beat her, and now she behaves.
You’re too soft on her; she’ll walk all over
you!”
My dad seemed to relax a little after hearing
their opinions.
<
Uncle Mike pointed at me sternly.
“No food, no water for three days! Only if she
agrees to go back to school will we let her
down.”
“She’s in college, and she’s acting like this! If
you don’t toughen up, you’ll ruin her life!”
Mom nodded.
“Got it. I’m good with that. It’s just that old
man Riley is too soft on his girl.” She glared
at my dad, silencing him.
Then Mom turned on the TV, putting on an
English online class.
“Riley, you’re going to study, even hanging
upside down. Don’t fall behind.”
“Everyone else is working hard, and you’ve
been out of school for a week! Think about
how much you’re falling behind! What if you
graduate late?!”
“Don’t blame us for being harsh. We’re doing
this for your own good!”
I’d been hanging for an hour, and I was
miserable.
“Mom, please let me go…
“”
Mom’s face twisted in anger. She slapped
- me.
“You spoiled brat! I’m trying to help you, and
you’re being difficult. You’re useless!”
