It all starts
with a simple question
Not meant to harm or injure
Just a meaningless inquiry
(It's not meaningless to her
it dictates the path of her world)

She feels the tears rush
to fill the emptiness in her eyes
She doesn't mind much
all the taunts of 'over-sensitive'
and 'cry baby'
(Not at the time, at least)

(Why are you so angry?)
(Stop taking things so personally)

This little girl
with her delicate little fingers
and fragile little feelings
Isn't really all that little
That's just how they make her feel
("I'm seven now, mom. That means
I'm big")

As the rest of them grow
Intimidating and Powerful and Big
She shrinks back into herself
back to before it all began

(Why are you so angry?)

Their words get harsher and more venomous
With each passing day
They make her want to reach into her skin
And tear out all the Wrong

(Relax, it was just a joke)
(Why are you so upset?)

So down the rabbit hole she falls
because this little girl isn't so little anymore and she's supposed to Better than this and Stronger than this but she's not
And she knows that

There's no place left to hide
no corners she can tuck herself away in
In the smoky ashes of the walls
That once made up her castle
But were diminished to ruin
by the fire licking at the tips of their tongues
by the lava coating each one of their words
(Why are you so quiet?)

It's their last words, though
That squirm their way into her chest
And bang around until there's nothing left
But a hollow cavern of bone
Where her heart should be
As she stares into the eyes
of the ones who hurt (broke) her
(Why are you so sad?)