Survivor

I no longer flinch at a noise outside my door.

How could you let a child be more afraid of you

than a monster in her closet?

I had to unlearn fear.

I had to unlearn your footsteps.

Making sure you’re not coming into my room

is no longer something I have to worry about.

I have learned

that it is not normal

to feel my stomach turn

at just the thought of a conversation with you.

You put your hands on the wrong woman

because my mother

taught me how to take it,

But I taught myself

how to fight back.