I cut off ties with my family until my mother was dying of cancer. I saw her before she died and attended her memorial service. I didn't even want to do that much; her family was hostile and my dad was his usual pompous self. Yes, I know she's not getting better. No, I have better memories of me at five years old. Geez.

Didn't go back after that.

I made a lot of mistakes on my own, but I was also independent from them and that was freeing.