THE TWENTY SECOND YEAR

A SYNONYM

I knew who I was but didn't know I was cruel—

or, at least, a synonym for cruelty.

I didn't know cruel as a verb, as action.

To cruel a thing.

I only knew it as an adjective, as description.

A cruel thing.

I could recognize a cruel smile or a cruel act

or even a cruel glint in one's eye

but I didn't know one could cruel one's chance

to be considered human.