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Echo Fall 2016
24
Mistakes Anonymous
Why do we live in a world where people don’t get married to stay married? Where it’s more acceptable for a husband to cheat on his wife than a man to love on another man. Where kids are raised with their parents hating each other, constantly being forced to pick sides and being punished when choosing incor-
rectly. Being told, “Why don’t you just go live with your mother?” when you stay out past curfew. Where having a stepmom seems like the worst thing in the world until you realize you actually care about her, and then she’s ripped away. She’s ripped away by your father’s “mistakes.” By his boredom. “What if it’s fate?” he asks, thinking that’s an acceptable excuse for breaking his own vows. Where your dad dumps his mistakes onto you, telling you all of his problems. “But don’t tell anyone,” he says. “I just needed to make myself feel better.” Not being able to talk about it to anyone, because of the fear that you’ll be sent away. Ripped from your life here, with all of your friends and family and people that care about you. Dealing with someone
else’s problems. Dealing with your own father’s infidelity. His mistakes. Blamed on you.
Error Hannah Makholm
