Dear vidanova:

As at 54 I am still healing from the devastating effects of having a … toxic mother and after cutting all contact with her in spite of the great guilt I felt about doing so, I owe it to myself to live the rest of my life NOT in the company of other toxic people, disingenuous people who would hurt me repeatedly and unrepentant. Simply NOT be in the physical presence of any such person no matter what. Really, and this is the freedom of it: I don’t HAVE TO be around anyone I choose not to be.

anita