progress.

Still, she had chosen to humiliate Lily in front of the people who were supposed to love her.

My mother noticed my silence.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that,” she said. “I’m just being honest.”

Honest.

That was another word she often used to excuse cruelty.

“I’m only being honest about your appearance.”

“I’m only being honest about your choices.”

“I’m only being honest because I care.”

But honesty without kindness had become her excuse for making people feel small.

I looked around the room.

No one laughed.