I should feel diminished,
unheard and lectured.
And I did,
nanoscopically.

I should feel unloved,
their affect lacked compassion.
Listening was only a placeholder,
a civility until the rule quoting could begin.

I should feel devalued,
my only worth being what I could provide.
And I did,
maybe a wee bit.

I should feel ashamed,
for giving up the games and maltreatment.
Sacrificing my divine authenticity
in the name of the creating one is required.

I should feel disgraced,
failing to amputate my holy-ness,
on the altar of dysfunction.
But I don’t,
not even microscopically.

I could feel
diminished,
unloved,
devalued,
ashamed,
and disgraced.

But liberation is so much better.