And today again she said nothing
For long she had always spoken
But most times they didn’t listen
And when they did, she got a scolding
So she got used to the silence
Her mind the only place
Conversations could happen, unjudged
And she spoke to herself
Music her only solace
As it spoke for her
Without judgment
She pretended not to care
But I saw it in her eyes
When she looked away
After another statement
Cut her open, revealing her vulnerable side
I wish I could say something to her
Anything, to remind her
That it never was her fault
That she could speak
That someday, somebody will listen
But I worry
That I may just hurt her even more
By exposing the lie she lives in
So I spare her a smile
In hopes she remembers
How to speak her mind
Even when they try and silence her