'a way of life'

let me paint you a picture of a girl who had too much to understand

as the rain clatters along the roof

he came to the side of her bed

the warm night light flickered

as his fingers ‘caressed’ her

he pinned her down ‘gently’ against the dark cold ground

she shuddered

his lips pressed against her barely developed breasts

the gentle whisper ‘let’s not get caught’ confused her

her pain - her comfort

he tied her arms and nibbled every part of her flesh

for him to moan

her fear - her friend

she realized she was explored like one never would

the path untraveled

her beauty unraveled

you see she understood quite early this world works a little different

she understood that you always owed them one

much like a barter system

but here slightly different

now she lives with a tainted understanding of love

a constant battle to remind herself it was not her

it never was her

Yes, she spoke up but no one listened

it is the way of life she was told

it also came with a reminder

to never trust strangers

but what if it is one of your own?