Cry in the Shower

by Liz Leighton

Detailing the emotionally complicated relationship between a mother and daughter both suffering from an emotional disorder (which the mother has euphemistically coined as “the sads”), this piece jumps around in time to reveal how a family of two develops over the course of a lifetime. Chantal Gregory perseveres to teach her daughter, Lena “The Rules of Suffering” to help her survive genetically inherited clinical depression. In doing so, she overlooks her daughter’s humanity. This piece explores how even the closest relationships can fall apart.