Sarcasm

Sarcasm can be the life blood of household. Such a household is a very mean-spirited place with mean people who have mean words. Compliments would certainly not what they seemed. The intent of a compliment, when voiced, could be said to point out an area of inadequacy by snidely praising. Or might it be that it only seems that way.
That's the thing about living in a verbal war zone - you are never quite sure of where the barb wire lies. It is often disguised. Camouflauged. Sarcasm can be used to mask a vitriol spirit. And the people skilled in using it are often thought to be clever.
If a person turns her back on that existence, does it ever leave her? If her heart's desire is peace, simple interactions, honest exchanges - is she able to purge the dirtiness that had sullied her life? Does a rattle snake cease being a rattle snake if it spurns the shake of her tail and the drip of her venom? Her life is that of a snake. Even if never used, as long as she lives, she possesses a death rattle. Instinct will ever press upon her.
Peace.