Silent Cries In the Night

He’s walking you home on a path unfamiliar

No other people or houses in sight

All of a sudden you notice you’re in the woods off the path

He stops and you ask why

Next he’s touching you in places you’ve kept to yourself

You say stop, more touching is his response

Then he’s trying to undo you’re bra, you yell the word NO

Then he pushes his body on top of yours on the forest floor and covers your mouth yo silence you

You try to scream with all your might, no sound escapes

His belt is being unbuckled, his jeans unzipped and a knife pulled out

You want desperately to scream and push him off of you

But are paralyzed with fear, you see your life pass

It seems like hours have passed

Then when it seems it will never end

He gets up, zips his jeans and disappears into the woods

As you are left there on the naked ground with bruises and cuts as souvineirs 

You try to get up but are too scared to move

You wait, to make sure it’s really over and that he’s gone

You find strength to get up, buckle your bra, button your shirt, and fix your skirt

It’s 2:06 a.m. when you get home, nobody’s there as always

You get a steaming bath going to try and wash away the night, the tears and the pain

The phone begins to ring, you jump and don’t dare answer

You let it ring and ring and ring until you decide to answer

It’s him threatening you not to say a word, you black out and fall to the floor

You wonder how anybody could do that

How could your boyfriend go from your love

To your nightmare in one god damned night

How could he rape you?

All the empty questions just floating around

Somehow you manage to fall asleep

Next thing you know your mother is standing over you shaking you awake

The boogey man’s gone now she says as she chuckles

Then you remember

The woods

The naked ground cold on your flesh

The phone call and the questions

You decide to hide it

Keep it to yourself

Until one day it comes out

And you can’t hold it any longer

You’re walking with your friend

You see him and start to scream and run away

Your friend catches up with you and says softly and sweetly, “we need to talk”

So she dials a cab and you go to her house

You tell her everything as she sits in shock

And for the first time you breakdown and cry

She comforts you and tells you that you need to tell, before he strikes again

She cradles you like a baby and just holds you as you weep

You start seeing a counclor

It starts to help

But you still see him every night in your nightmares

Your friend gives you a “Stop Violence Against Women” rally flyer

You don’t want to go, you feel too weak

Your friend encourages you and helps you write your story down

Then you’re there, no turning back

Getting called up to the podium

Today as you stand up there in front of all the women with similar stories

Today as you say to yourself

“I was raped. What he did was wrong. It wasn’t my fault. I’m free of him and his power over me”

You walk off feeling like a weight has been lifted and that you are as free as a butterfly.