Mixed Messages

You will never have to worry again

You will never have to be afraid again

I will always take care of you

I will always take care of Jackson

But he didn’t say how

And I didn’t ask how

I decided to trust, blindly, once more

But I know how now

He lied to me

He lied to himself

He lied to his kids

He lied to my kids

He lied to his parents

He lied to my parents

And he says it’s all because of Becky

And he says it’s all because of the woman who said he’d be a terrible teacher

And he says it’s all because of his job

And he says it’s all because of…what will the reason be next week?  Next month?  Next year?

No matter the reason

The people in his life are human beings, and they are worthy of love, respect, and compassion.

I won’t accept less, and they shouldn’t, either.

The truth is

We’ve all lied and deceived

About different things

And in different ways

The lies and deceptions have been devastating

And will continue to be

Until they are killed

Our family’s health and survival hangs in the balance

What will we choose?

Life or death?