The perfect family. That’s how you were depicted. Fake smiles for family portraits, constant yelling between your parents and at you. Your guards forced into quiet with money and threat to blacklist them into homelessness.

A+’s, violin, piano, harp, sports, fake smiles, perfect grades, perfect handwriting, polite, never give anything away, strict diet, arranged marriage when you’re old enough. Be perfect. That was your reality. Behind closed doors and curtains it was abusive. Physically and mentally.

Your father sat with a hand around your mother’s back as the photographer framing another portrait with the newborn, you, your older brother, and parents stood behind the camera. “Can I get a little more smile from the young lady?” He asked you, having not corporates well your father snapped.

“Smile for god sake!” He slammed a hand on the couch you guys sat on. Making the newborn cry as he told his wife to clam it immediately. The perfect family.