The Person Everyone Believes You Are

By Kylie Wright

“It won’t matter in five years.” “That’s just what guys do.” “I know him; he wouldn’t do that.”

As I sit at my desk, I am forced to repeat all these things that I have been told. While you get to live your life just as before.

I watch as our coaches and classmates praise you, and defend you as I sit in pain, my mind unable to shut up.

I replay the things you said, the things you did, over and over and over.

Because I don’t get to just forget and move on. That is a gift only given to the abuser.

In 5 years, I will still be scarred. The girl I was before you will never again exist.

Guys will continue “to be guys,” and people will continue to feed into your lies.

I am tired.

Tired of not being believed, tired of hurting.

I wish that I could just forget, but unlike you, I don’t get that pleasure.

So I will continue to hurt