Member-only story
MEMOIR
Wounds and Wings: A Summer Afternoon With My Bully and My Super-Hero
A memoir of a victim turned victor
“Hi,” I whispered.
I felt dizzy with apprehension. I fidgeted with my fingers while I looked at the blue shoe on my left leg, missing the silver bow its other pair proudly boasted. No matter how hard I tried, I could not meet her eyes.
When I received no response, I turned around and looked at my Dad, standing further away from the porch. He smiled and showed his right thumb — a small gesture symbolizing that he has my back no matter how bad it goes. Looking at his tough smile, I took a deep breath and felt the knot in my stomach untie a little.
“Why are you here?”
Unexpectedly, her voice that once calmed me, now brought chills down my spine. I failed to understand why her voice still affected me, even though I perfectly knew who was in the right and who wasn’t.
“How come I don’t see the difference?” I asked, meeting my teary mother’s eyes.
“Because there is a thin line between a lover and a narcissist. A lover loves you despite your flaws, and a narcissist loves you because of it.”