That poem was amazing as well as very sad I couldn't hold the tears back. I am 33yrs old and am just finally coming out of the blindfold of my entire life with my parents. I moved out when I was 17 married a wonderful man(God must have been really looking out for me cause he wasn't the type I usually dated!) when I was 20 and since have had 2 wonderful kids Aiden 8 and Karleigh 11. I can't believe how long it takes to really come out of the dark. I really can relate to your statement of "one last false hope rises, then fades" In the past 2 years I have really distanced myself from my parents and extended family just for the sake of my own sanity! I was really starting to think I was the Crazy one! My Dad is an alcoholic and my mom is so codependent thet she can barely function anymore. Of coarse everyone is "out to get them and they have done no wrong" I knew my Mom was really sick when she told my Pastor that I "kidnapped" my 17 yr old brother (I offered him a place to stay as they were moving into my sisters garage with no running water etc)I think this is got to be their 30th move that I know of! ............Always an excuse though and no fault of their own....Anyways I really wanted to thank you for your poem. I don't feel like I'm an alien anymore!!!