If someone asked you what the dominant emotion of your childhood was,
what would your answer be?
This happened to me and it wasn't a trusted friend or a therapist who posed the question,
but someone I cleaned for who could engage me in interesting conversations.
My uninhibited response was, "shame."
As I said the word I could feel what a deep tragedy it was,
a terrible legacy and a heavy burden for a child to carry.
But it was the truth,
my truth.
Shadow cast on St. Augustine Beach, in broad daylight.