House

[evieshka]

You inherited a house.

You called it home.

In that house, there were crumbling walls and black mold; there were knives and rats where knives and rats should not be. There were things to cause you harm.

The house sheltered you from the elements. When it rained, there was a roof over your head. The house sheltered you from prying eyes, as well.

It was not a good house.

You learned from it what makes houses good, and what makes them bad. Now you can recognize the qualities of good and bad in other houses.

You have built in yourself better walls; you have cleaned the mold left in your lungs by the house that was home. You set out rat traps. You put the knives in the knife drawer where they belong. You know how to shelter others from rainstorms.

Are you the house you inherited?