she is,” I told him.

It was my favorite explanation.

That’s just how she is.

I used those five words to excuse years of behavior that had left me doubting my intelligence, appearance, choices, and worth.

Whenever she made an unkind remark, I convinced myself that she meant well.

Whenever she compared me with someone else, I told myself she was trying to motivate me.

Whenever she embarrassed me in front of relatives, I smiled because I didn’t want to create a scene.

I became an expert at swallowing my