What Are They Hiding From Me?

The loss of childhood does not always stem from a harsh event; sometimes it occurs when a child is forced to observe adults, sensing that behind everything lies a hidden truth. A child raised in an environment full of secrets, or one who is emotionally attached to a parent to the extent that he fails to notice his own repeated breakdowns in front of that parent while digging into their wounds—unaware of the impact this has on the young psyche—is invariably haunted by a single question: What are they hiding from me? As the world becomes more mysterious to him, his curiosity shifts from a desire for knowledge into a means of survival and a sense of security. This is because a typical child observes his parents to learn how to navigate life and interact with his surrounding world. But when he finds himself in a turbulent environment, he begins to watch them closely to ensure that everything is alright. He monitors voices, studies glances, and repeats sentences or phrases. He learns the sound of the door opening and the cadence of footsteps, and he ponders the reasons behind absences and long silences. Thus, he learns to read what is left unsaid without making a sound, driven to grow up before his time. There is a difference between raising a child on honesty and exposing him to things beyond his capacity to understand. Sometimes, the effect is to turn him into a cautious and skeptical person toward those around him. What if the child asks not to find the truth, but to find the security that settles within him in the answer? Only so that he can later explore the world with a broad, confident step, free from fear or suspicion.