Once there was a little girl,

Her world was all she knew.

What she thought was normal treatment

Turned her black and blue.

Once there was a little girl,

She cried herself to sleep.

Sticks and stones didn’t break her bones,

Words left her in a heap.

Once there was a little girl,

To a bright light she awoke.

Realization let her know

Her great big heart was broke.

Once there was a little girl,

She had a band-aid on her soul.

It took years and years of healing

The throbbing pain had finally dulled.

Once there was a little girl,

Big tears welled in her eyes.

The grown woman in the mirror

Was one she did not recognize.