A Wigwam for a Goose's Bridle

I pulled the albums off the shelf in search
of photos of a calico cat, arrayed in dolls’ clothes
and laid in a stroller, and what was merely
a search for a funny anecdote to share
became an unexpected session of self-gaslighting.
Look at her: that smile is radiant, and is she not
just the most perfect specimen of a small human?
It must all be in your head: you say
you never fit in, you were always different,
but look, she shines with joy. You say
she was teased mercilessly for that body?
But that’s a perfectly normal child. I’m not
accusing you of making these things up, per se, 
just maybe you were mistaken.