“Silent Child” 

                                                  Writer: Harley Patterson

“ The damage made you stronger person”

That damage you think made me stronger- stole my voice, 

It stole my dreams, my childhood, my happiness.

It took the joy out of everything.

I had to stay quiet, or it would backfire on me.

It turned me into a shadow, it made my presence overlooked.

I was a kid,

No kid should have to go through that,

Taken and pulled away,

Only to go somewhere that wasn’t any better.

An adult who was supposed to care and protect me like I was her own, 

Part of that damage done by her,

My voice was gone,

She made sure of that.

I was a kid,

But i had to keep secrets,

I never said a word about the yelling, pushing, locked in the dark screaming,

I never talked about the threats, the fact I had to sacrifice my education for her kids,

silent , silent, silent.

“Don't open your mouth” “ Your dad isn't gonna believe you”

 “You can scream but you will never be heard” “No one is going to save you”

I was a kid, 

I shouldn't have had to sacrifice, I didn’t need to be stronger,

I should have never had to be an adult, 

Cleaning the whole house, eating after everyone else.

I was a kid,

A home is never supposed to be scary,

After school a kid should be happy to be “home”

Not me,

I still had an hour before my dad got home, before I was okay. 

I was a kid, 

Weekends should be fun,

Not for me,

Bullied by one kid,

Laughed at by the mother,

I was a kid,

Watching the clock,

Staying outside till I heard dad pull in,

Weekends I had to wait all day.

I was a kid,

I was scared to be left alone with this women,

Anytime dad had to leave, 

“Please don't be long, I'm scared.”

I was a kid,

I shouldn't have had to be stronger,

I needed to be safe and happy.

I survived, 

I made it through, not because of the damage

But because I had the strength to face it everyday for 8 years and tell it-

“You will not make me little.” “ You will not destroy me.” “I will be heard.”