Enough

I remember the first real conversation we had about it.

It started off small. I was still just the girlfriend, so I wasn't coming in hot with opinions. I just remember biting my tongue and telling myself, "Tonight is not the night to say anything."

After a family dinner at The Balkan Storm's house, everyone left, and as we were cleaning up, I asked: "You always let your family talk to you like that?”

Because what I had heard all evening from grown adults was attitude, sarcasm, and straight-up condescension.

He shrugged. “That’s just how they are. “

When I gave him a look, he added, “It’s a Northern thing, we just talk differently to family.”

I reminded him that his kids were raised further south than my corn-pone ass, so that didn’t exactly make sense.

"Weird," I said. "You and your mother are actual Northerners, and I’ve never heard you talk to her like that. I’ve never heard you talk to anyone like that.”

Yes, Northerners can be direct. I’m not unfamiliar with the concept.

This wasn't that.

He paused for a second, then admitted I wasn't the first person to bring it up.
That’s when I knew we were in for a loooong, bumpy ride.

Little did I know this was the least of our problems.