As a child, authority has the right to judge, to impose a world view on you.

I followed the wrong advice, from the right person: I crashed and never recovered.

My adviser remained unblameable, my ingrained behaviour protected them.

I played the role of shamed dunce, my adviser triumphant, a respected icon.

Exposing their manipulation, their cunning, would have hurt too many people.

I reserved the right to retain assumed responsibility; the greater good.

I weathered my ostracization, removed myself from that poisoned arena.

Distance let me see the pantomimes, learning character, growing out of childhood.