An Old Photo of Mother

As I stared at the faded photograph, a flood of emotions came over me. This younger version of my mother was so radiant and full of life, sitting next to my father. They both looked so happy, so in love. It's almost impossible to reconcile this image with the shattered fragments of the past.

Her beauty still radiates but was a hint of sadness in her eyes. Was it a knowledge of the pain and addictions that would eventually consume her? It's so sad to realize someone so beautiful could reach a point where life became unbearable.

Looking at this frozen moment in time, I can't help but feel such a loss. The love that once flourished between them is now a distant memory. The man who fathered me and would later satisfy his lusts with me sat smiling next to a woman who loved him.  Damn him!