They were the adult when I needed an adult.
They cracked jokes about my situation because they were fully aware of it.
When I started trying to stand up for myself and protect myself I was punished.
When I got deeply depressed and self destructive I was ridiculed.
There was no safety or comfort, but I was required to sing their praises in public as if there were because they knew what was happening behind closed doors was wrong.

Several of them have died since I burned those bridges. When I find out about their passing, I am absolutely emotionally overcome. But not with regret, with pride. They never again had the opportunity to steal from me, call me a bitch, or make me think something very abnormal and wrong was normal and acceptable to happen to me. I did that. I protected myself because I love myself.

It's the hardest thing I've ever done because most people think I'm the bad guy in this situation for cutting ties with family. Literally no one can relate. I am alone in my experiences, but I'd rather be literally alone than feel as isolated as I did when I was surrounded by that "big loving family".

It started when I was 2. GO FUCK YOURSELF!