In the beginning
I listened
I cried
But I never fought back
Not because I didn’t want to
But because at such a young age one has the inability
To put their thoughts into the reasonable words that you would request
The words could have changed your mind

But as I grew older
I listened
I cried
And still I could not fight back
For fear that you would hurt me
Not physically of course
But why leave physical bruises when you can invisibly leave them inside of my head instead

Now
I pretend to listen
I never cry
You can no longer touch me
And all those wounds in my adolescent brain have healed
They may have left scars
But those scars have made me stronger
Have given me the will to fight back

Now
I am no longer afraid