Mad

Mad
by Yash Seyedbagheri
I see rage in every pause, a chill in distant glances.
They’re just distracted, tired, Mama and sister Nan say. They say I’m creative, lovable. They promise, promise, promise.
But in their actions, I see Dad’s mustache, long gone, hissing with transgressions. Walk straight, tuck your shirt, be confident, As, not Bs, you’re emotional. I tiptoed, marched, studied, cursed him out. Words still slithered and bit, a thousand raw bites tinged with his Old Spice.
I soothe myself with Nan’s smile, Mama’s laugh. Try to relax when they hug or tease.
But I still look beneath smiles. Something’s always hiding.
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Yash Seyedbagheri is a graduate of Colorado State University’s M.F.A. program in fiction. His stories “Soon,” “How To Be A Good Episcopalian,” and “Tales From A Communion Line” were nominated for Pushcarts. His work has been published in or is forthcoming from SmokeLong Quarterly, The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts, and Ariel Chart, among other publications.