You know it was hard for me, breaking into corporate life
People didn’t exactly treat me with respect
I sink deeper into my seat at the kitchen table, settling in for the story I’ve heard so many times before.
ruby.ocampo:
I know, Mom
sampaguita72:
I was so terrified all the time. Alone here, scrambling
ruby.ocampo:
I know, I remember
sampaguita72:
Let me finish! You think you know everything
I’m trying to tell you, I was wrong when I said that
I was so tired when I was alive, out of my mind with stress
I wasn’t thinking clearly
I was doing this so you wouldn’t have to
It does make me sad, seeing how you’re living, staying late at the office, running around in circles
I wanted more for you than this
All my muscles are clenched, and I’m willing the tears gathering in the corners of my eyes not to spill out.
ruby.ocampo:
Aren’t you the one who told me it’s good to keep your head down
Aren’t you the one who told me
I stop and flex my fingers, breathe in, breathe out. The barrier between my thoughts and my fingers is becoming dangerously thin.
ruby.ocampo:
Every time I complained about work, I remember you’d tell me
about how you knew you had to work twice as hard to be taken seriously
and you were just glad to be participating
and because you did it, it’s normal
and how grateful i should be
i am grateful!
i know how much worse things could be!
