As my feet step in the tub.
While the boiling water ran down my small body.
Making my pale skin bright red.
But the moment it hit my shoulders and ran down my back.
The burden I held became lighter.
While the feeling of your hands became heavier.
the feeling of you taking my innocence.
Possessing it as if it were yours.
As if the neglect that was inflicted on me wasn’t enough.
Was it my fault?
Was my hairless body so tempting?
Was my small chest so hard to resist?
Was my onesie too revealing?
Was it the way I hugged you?
Was it the way I called your name?
or was it the way I looked like her.
my fear grew smaller.
while my anger grew bigger.
angry to everyone that wasn’t aware.
but no, it’s not their fault.
nor is it mine.
I’m a home with double cylinder locks.
Where the key only gets put in.
Where the lock jams with the slightest turn.
Where the door never opens.
To be free is the ability to speak. Speak freely about anything.
I’ve grown from how I used to be, and now I can speak freely about what I went through. And if I can, it feels as if anyone that’s gone through the same thing can do the same. As I was completing this project, I realized how much I held my feelings and thoughts in. Writing about it and just putting it out there makes me feel better.
My goal in creating this piece was to help others feel more comfortable about anything they went through and speak out. After viewing this piece, I hope my audience feels comfortable with speaking out and talking about their situations and experiences where they feel trapped and silenced.