It was no longer what was left of you that simply counted.
You had been systematically leaving me from the onset.
It pains me to think that it had taken me years...
A startling amount of years to realize that it was what was left of me that mattered.

You had only but to crook your pinky to force me into the role of outwardly respecting you no matter what and come-what-may.
And, after countless ages of your public humiliation and inhumane treatment, it all-but-broke me.
Nonetheless, what remained was my new-found sense of self-respect.
And, to your total shock-and-awe, I began to thrive.

After dark, devastating eons, of your mind-numbing games, my first concern was no...