Living Arrangements

To an outsider, the letters in this episode look like simple negotiations over housing and money. But when I revisit them, I see how they were really my first understanding of the coercive control my father had over my mother. My father claimed Curtis wanted to live with him, despite Curtis telling my mother the opposite just hours earlier. Yet my mother instantly folded, accepting his version of events without question or double-checking with Curtis. What looked like practical “living arrangements” was actually another example of my father's abuse.

⚠️ Content Note: This episode discusses sensitive themes, including abuse, domestic violence, suicide, and family conflict, and may not be suitable for all listeners. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 in the U.S. for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.