Estrangers

 47 years ago I ran away from home. It was the best thing I ever did and I am proud of it. I had to save my life from an abusive mother and a poisonous family system. The parents are long dead but the siblings and step-siblings have never forgiven me. They avoid looking outside the tiny dysfunctional family box. To me that is the surprise I never anticipated. I imagined I could speak normally with my siblings and perhaps garner an apology from them for how they were brainwashed into abusing and hating me. But it's not over yet. It's just the HOLIDAYS.