For so long I’ve been silent.
I’ve watched the world go by and tried my best to silently be a part of it.
I just watched and never spoke a word.
I watched as the star wrestler walked into the classroom
with a dark, painful black eye that most presumed he got from his favorite sport.
But I knew.
I knew that his recently bruised eye was a present given to him by his alcoholic father the night before.
I knew, but never spoke a word.
I just watched as the weird girl walked into the classroom
with soaked, mascara stained sleeves from wiping her wet eyes all day.
Most presumed she was crying because she was so happy for being voted homecoming queen.
But I knew.
I knew her tears were because she knew she got the nomination as a rude prank.
I knew, but never spoke a word.
I watched as the people I loved most walked into the classroom with a new scar each day.
Most believed the stories they told about how they gained their cuts.
But I knew.
I knew about their battles.
I knew about their demons.
I knew about their secrets.
I knew, but never spoke a word.
I knew I could have helped somehow.
But no, I just watched.
And I stayed silent.
But I am not the only one.
We all just watch and stay silent sometimes.
We all know the truth.
We all see the truth.
But we never change the truth.
We whisper to ourselves…
“What could I even do?”
“I’ll just make it worse.”
“Not my problem.”
But that makes us the murderers.
The creator of bruises, tears, and scars.
We need to rise against the silence.
Let’s stand together and speak up.
Because we know.