They couldn't scare me.
"You're a freak."
"You're gay."
"You're a f**."
They could not scare me.
They could only scar me.

They didn't know me.
Yet,  I was infamous.
They didn't know me.
But they told me who I was.
They didn't know me
Did I know "me"?

Kid's are impressionable.
Twelve year olds are impressionable.
Those who are lonely are impressionable.
Those who are confused are impressionable.
Those wanting any form of human compassion are impressionable.
Twelve year olds are vulnerable
I was only twelve years old.
They said it's what I wanted.
He told me that's what I needed.
I didn't need that.

What had I done.
If people found out, it would confirm all which they claimed.
It wasn't really me, that's not me.
That's who you told me to be.
Are you happy?
Because I was not
Because I am not.
I carried a constant fear, a baggage, a guilt of a story unknown.
I worked for years to say I wasn't as they claimed.
And truly, I wasn't.
But it's hard to deny the physical evidence.

So, why expose myself now?
People finally started to take my word.
Why add fuel to, rather than douse the flames?
Learn from me.
I am stronger , because I was weakened.
I am kinder, because they were not.
I am inclusive, because they were exclusive.
I know who I am, because I was tested.
I love all because, I know I wasn't the only one.

Look at me now.
Friends around.
Known about.
Accolades abound.
So sit on down.
Because b****,
I took the crown.