@openeyes. Thank you for your always thoughtful post.

You are spot on about how all the shyt hit the fan with my whole family once I was educated here.

My details regarding the money must have come out confusing, as it is my mother in a bad financial situation and not my aunt. But these details don’t really matter.

Also, the person was a family member and I suppose, yes, it technically was gossip. I’m not sure why it was even being discussed. They weren’t victim blaming. I won’t go into the incident because I don’t know how to use the Trigger button anymore. It doesn’t really matter, either.

My aunt either really didn’t hear me, which is improbable, or didn’t WANT to hear me. I have never seen any empathy from her about anything or toward anyone. Empathy challenged and highly sophisticated holding important position in career.

My mom did know about my incident prior to my saying it to my aunt. I finally told her during the past several years, once I was familiar with PC here. Her reaction was “Good thing you didn’t tell me then, I’d have gone to his house and (something to the effect of) made a scene.’ But there was never any more discussion about it. Honestly, I never thought much about it, even when it happened. Weird.

I see why I made choices that have me in the dysfunctional situation I am in. I hope I can do better.

My son is doing alright. I’m glad he is content. Yes, the abandonment was mind blowing, and I am not exaggerating about the incident that happened with him.

My conclusion about my topic of this thread is: When you feel love, that’s what it is. When you feel intense dislike, that love lessens. When one over rules the other, it dominates. I don’t believe someone can be cruel to someone they love... I really don’t. I know I can’t.