I Was Taught to Earn Love. AI-Generated.
I was taught to earn love the way others were taught to speak. Fluently. Carefully. With consequences for mistakes.
Love arrived when report cards were clean and voices were quiet. When my shoes were lined up by the door, and my opinions stayed folded inside my chest. Approval didn’t come wrapped in warmth. It came as a nod, a softened tone, a temporary peace. Silence after failure said more than words ever could. No one needed to say, “You only matter if you do this right.” The message was embedded in every glance, every sigh, every delayed smile.
