rape



an ugly word, a despicable action

something uncontrollable, maybe?

no one at fault, no one takes the blame

most make it a joke and no one takes it seriously



until



it enters a life

darkens a soul

changes a world



then, it’s not so much of a joke

then it brings pain

then it makes them wonder



why?

did I cause this?

is it my fault?

when does the guilt leave?

when will I no longer be afraid?

when does the pain go away?

when will I be free from this?

when will I have peace?



then it causes them to doubt



who am I now?

what have I become?

will I ever be healed?

when will I be clean again?

will I ever be the same person I once was?



some get help, take revenge

some speak in quiet, broken voices to trusted friends

some keep it in, locking it inside themselves, hiding



but none will ever be the same



and they try to move past their past,

all can- they become stronger



but some are haunted much longer

haunted by the

memories

guilt

fear



some place the blame on others

some keep it to themselves

all wish they could stop blaming anyone

all wish to take back the past

but they learn

to live again

to grow again



the broken children

yearning to be mended

but only time mends these types of wounds





they lost something

their innocence

and they can never get it back



but they can gain something

strength

and they have what we need to go on

courage

faith



the pain

it hurts, inside

where no one can see it but them and God

people, who once saw all the beauty in the world

can only see darkness



when they know that they once trusted

and now can not trust again

when they know that trust leads to pain

that trust can be broken

and never can be the same as it once was



they want to be free

free from the chains of the past that keep them where they are

that keeps them trapped



Free from the memories-

they want to forget

they want to banish the thoughts from their minds

and never think upon such dark things again

but how free would any of them be

if a few forgot what so many cannot forget?



they learn, with time

that what happened

was not in their control

was not their fault

or their responsibility to fix



that they can still be loved

that they can have peace

that all touch is not bad

that not all people live to hurt



that all the blame

the shame

is not theirs to hold alone



we are not alone