Have you ever blindly defended a loved one who often faces unwarranted and unfounded, biased criticisms? They know nothing about it, of course, but you do. You could never tell them about some of the stupid things people have said about them because it would destroy what precious little dignity they have managed to preserve. You don't want them to inadvertently give the rumormongers more fire to fuel their lie factories, so you tend to micromanage the loved one in question. You tell them when they're out of line. And, of course, they do what you expect: They insult you, tell you that you're obsessed with them and that you just need to shut up and stay out of their life. All the while you are carrying around baggage from your most recent bout of defending this person tooth and nail.

And yet, if they only knew what you were going through - - if they knew how you feel when you hear the crap people disseminate far and wide about them...then things would be so completely different. This person would then somehow realize how deeply their words hurt you when you've only been trying to help them all this time. They would give you thanks from the innermost depths of their heart for being a caring family member and an overall decent human being.


And yet, this will never transpire. Since you don't want to damage them anymore than they've already been damaged, you maintain a painful silence about the rumors. You try and help them, but you're constantly yelled at and cut by one stinging accusation or insult after another. You resolve in your heart to continue your cursed vigil, hoping that someday, just someday, that they see what you've been doing for them.