What must it be like for you?

What must it be like for you?
To sleep but only dream,
Living with happy memories,
Have choices that aren’t taken away.

What must it be like for you?
Not plagued by the shadow in the doorway,
Feeling only pleasure,
not the ghost of his hands interrupting.

What must it be like for you?
Being present all of the time,
Having a future before your eyes,
Not living in fear.

What must it be like for you?
Having a childhood to be proud of,
Knowing the safety of parents arms,
Not the fear of even the slightest touch.

What must it really be like for you?
Can you imagine the pain?
Can you imagine dying inside?
Can you see past your happiness?

This is what its like for me!
Childhood stolen from me at 9 years old,
No loving parents to protect me,
Life not worth living.

This is what it was like for me!
Falling asleep hoping it was the last time,
Waking knowing it would happen again,
Not crying for so long because I’d never stop.

This is what it was like for me!
Suicidal at age 10,
Five failed attempts at freedom,
Knowing I had no choice but to keep going.

This is my life!
My reality before your eyes,
My soul here for inspection,
My story of abuse, ready to be told.