Actions are assumed to have consequences. However, why did those consequences have to rebound on the individual, whose taking action to stand up for themselves? Rose Hunter didn't know what she was supposed to do. She desired her abusive family to pay some consequences for their gross mistreatment of her.
However, the entire family remained quite adamant in their denial of it. No matter how countless times she told them? None of them once took accountability when it came to their degrading behaviors.
Every day her family disrespected moreover treated her less than human. Seemingly as if she didn't possess feelings or wishes of her own. They're a bunch of hypocrites expecting her to uphold their rules and boundaries.
Yet, they didn't give a damn when it came to her rules and boundaries. For example? A boundary she'd set for her twin sister was to never go on her internet pages. Nor was she to comment when pictures were done for her on DA. However? Her twin gleefully violated that boundary. Maintaining it was the internet, therefore she could go wherever she desired. Consequently, she proceeded to either bite people's heads off or be incredibly ill-mannered.
Most detrimental? Lily never once said anything pleasant to Rose regarding her OCs. She instead behaved like a know-it-all, plus she constantly criticized her characters. Declaring, "This is, or that was wrong." Finally, she'd go around stating, "Oh, thank you for doing this for my sister. She'll be so happy," however, it came off as offensive because it made Rose look like she couldn't say thank you herself.
Plus, virtually every time, Lily ended up saying something nice to a stranger, yet not to her sister. Or else she ended up insulting them for what they were drawing. It never came off as thoughtful or considerate. Somewhat self-serving, moreover repeatedly disrespecting her sister's wishes not to comment. Given that she'd gotten loads of hate mail over the years regarding Lily's offensive words and actions directed at her.
It didn't help she'd never once properly thanked people who did pictures for her—saying only a half-ass thank you, instead of using the person's name plus saying one thing she liked. Rose ended up blocking her sister on all avenues on the internet to circumvent any further conflicts or receiving hate mail.
Her mother, Iris, never respected her daughter's requests either. Rose had adamantly stated that her money wouldn't be utilized to compensate for her mother's smoking addiction. However, Iris constantly bullied her until she got it, not caring about her daughter's boundaries.
Subsequent several years of this degrading treatment? Plus the fact her sister was known to get violent with others? Or her mother had struck her in the past? Plus, people would at the drop of a hat yell, cuss, or troll her for opening her mouth?
Rose remained in genuine terror of agitating her family. She sincerely worried that if she stood up for herself. What if her family ultimately paid for their wrongful conduct? It'd backfire on her. That they'd shame her, call her a liar, and she'd become a pariah all for standing up for herself. It sucked being stuck between a rock and a hard place. She craved so badly for someone to pay consequences for their mistreatment of her.
Yet at the same time? She lived in perpetual fear that they might physically hurt her. Or do something even more harmful if something occurs. So, in the end, she kept suffering because she feared for her life so much.
Consequently, the question remains? Do you report it and make them pay? Or do you keep languishing in silence? Praying they don't get physical with you? What do you do when you're between a rock and a hard place?
The Power of Self-Respect
"To free us from the expectations of others, to give back to ourselves, there lies the great, singular power of self-respect." Joan Didion.