#boundariesmatter - Hello Poetry

Not a stranger in the dark, Not a shadow in an alley— But someone who smiles at your child, Shares jokes at your dinner table, Sings the same songs, Speaks your mother tongue. His hand brushed past— Too long to be chance, Too casual to be innocent. And yet, You froze. Because this wasn’t a monster, Just a man Everyone knew. And liked. You told yourself, “Don’t overreact.” What would the group say? Would they roll their eyes, Or worse— Make it your shame to carry? You were told to be graceful. “Maintain harmony.” “Don’t spoil the vibe.” As if your bruised dignity Could be tucked Behind a polite smile. He laughed louder that day. You left quieter.

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Mar 27

Mar 27, 2026 at 10:20 PM UTC

Indigal1

Someone We Know

Not a stranger in the dark, Not a shadow in an alley— But someone who smiles at your child, Shares jokes at your dinner table, Sings the same songs, Speaks your mother tongue. His hand brushed past— Too long to be chance, Too casual to be innocent. And yet, You froze. Because this wasn’t a monster, Just a man Everyone knew. And liked. You told yourself, “Don’t overreact.” What would the group say? Would they roll their eyes, Or worse— Make it your shame to carry? You were told to be graceful. “Maintain harmony.” “Don’t spoil the vibe.” As if your bruised dignity Could be tucked Behind a polite smile. He laughed louder that day. You left quieter.

29

Yes, you made it through— alive. Good. I’m glad. But I promised my best friend I’d take a couple days before answering you. I set boundaries. Actually, you set them first. And now I won’t cross them. Even if you made a scene, claiming you might die. How foolish. Stay quiet. Recover. One day, I’ll answer you.

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Oct 22, 2025

Oct 22, 2025 at 7:38 PM UTC

girlinflames

One Day I’ll Answer You

Yes, you made it through— alive. Good. I’m glad. But I promised my best friend I’d take a couple days before answering you. I set boundaries. Actually, you set them first. And now I won’t cross them. Even if you made a scene, claiming you might die. How foolish. Stay quiet. Recover. One day, I’ll answer you.

18

I know I may sound cruel, but what I have now— peace, love, gratitude, abundance— cost me everything. Countless tears, endless nights in despair, asking myself: what am I doing with my life? I walked straight through the valley of the shadow of death, and survived. And now you want to rise from the ashes to shatter my peace? No. Never. Not here. You are rebuked. Here, you don’t enter.

0

Oct 15, 2025

Oct 15, 2025 at 8:05 PM UTC

girlinflames

Here, You Don’t Enter

I know I may sound cruel, but what I have now— peace, love, gratitude, abundance— cost me everything. Countless tears, endless nights in despair, asking myself: what am I doing with my life? I walked straight through the valley of the shadow of death, and survived. And now you want to rise from the ashes to shatter my peace? No. Never. Not here. You are rebuked. Here, you don’t enter.

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