Silence

by Angel Michelle


Silence.
The only response left when "No!" wasn't enough for Him.

Violence.
The incessant invasion of Her womb by a man to whom access was not granted.

Silence.
She walked in darkness to Her dorm room, constantly looking over He shoulder for fear that He was lurking in the shadows.


Terror.
She lied awake for hours wanting to forget the way He had climbed inside of Her. The pain in Her womb wouldn't let Her forget.

Silence.
Weekend nights once full with alcohol-filled & bass-driven fun replaced by racing thoughts and insomnia.

Secrets.
She doesn't want Them to know. They will never know.
Silence.

Vocalization would destroy the harmony in Her community.

Insanity.
He's her Brotha and She must protect him because They won't. Who will protect her from him?

Silence.
For fear that Her case, like Her body, would be grossly mishandled.

Risk.
Her reputation, scholarship and disappointed loved ones outweigh Her pain.

Silence.
The fading of the knawing in Her womb & the pills make it easier to forget.

Hello.
A greeting two syllables too long falling from the lips of Her attacker.

Silence.
A stunned response to public acknowledgement from He who had so privately violated Her.

Respectability.
She engages in conversation with he who They call Her Brotha so as not to cause a scene. Ladies don't cause scenes.

Silence.
Through each forced interaction with Him, a piece of Her wilts away. But Her smile never fades because They can't know.

Distance.
Thousands of miles ease the knots in Her stomach. Four years later, She is free of His presence.

Time.
Its passing converts Her shame to desire. Desire to laugh. desire to love. desire to comfort her Sistas who too have been hurt by the men they call Brotha.

Silence.
Broken by her need to heal.


Photo: Shutterstock


Hailing from Chicago, Angel Michelle is a Queen and Sista to many. A Vassar graduate, she is currently working & writing in the Ivory Tower. You can follow her on Twitter @JustAMichelle.