unheard. (#MeToo)

trigger warning: sexual harrassment/assault

P.R. -

/one year before/
a narrow alleyway

my footsteps i couldn't hear at all
but just like the music filling my ears
they were upbeat
happy
confident

three shadows

my footsteps i couldn't hear at all
but just like my heartbeat
they were gaining speed
uneasiness
trepidation

a hand on my neck
fingers pulling down my dress zipper

my footsteps i couldn't hear at all
but just like my voice
they would not budge
lost
empty

another emerging shadow
a woman

my footsteps i couldn't hear at all
but i could hear
the handful of words
​the woman yelled at me

run, i’ll take care of this!

my footsteps i couldn't hear at all
but just like the tears
streaming down my cheeks
they were fast
racing
an escape

/since then/
every moment

every instance of interaction
with tall men hindered
because of my assaulters

every occasion of choosing
whether or not to wear vibrant colors
because of being assaulted in a bright pink dress

every street, every corner
my footsteps i couldn't hear at all
but i could feel them
numb
distraught

/now/
i am still hurting
but the difference:
i am healing
i shall not be weakened

i can finally hear my footsteps.

illustration credit: tara o brien