This is me… before me. Before I learned of the secret rules, before I broke them, and my self confidence payed the price. Before my self love was stronger than my self hate. Before I started to appreciate complements and stopped obsessing over every negative comment that spilled off tongues of those who never mattered. Before I learned the power of the word “No”. Before the boys from fairy tails blossomed into the villains I grew up watching in superhero movies and fought , but lost too, in video games.

Before I realized I had control of the names I was called. That ***** and **** didn’t define me, if I never even let them past the walls I was going to build around myself. Before I realized “friend” was not a term to be thrown around, that friends don’t throw your feelings around, that friends don’t break down your walls only to throw bullets at your heart. Then leave you alone to build yourself back up. brick by dull brick.

Before my future became the light at the end of the tunnel. That determination was the spark that changed me from wanting to be a girl from a fairy tail, into the woman in the poetry I drowned myself in. The ones who fought for the sexes to be equal and the world to be right. The woman who couldn’t sleep at night, kept up by the injustices that plagued the world she lived in.

Now I know I have a choice, Now I know I have a Voice.