Rising From the Dark Silence

A silent child
ridiculed by others
stares blankly at a wall,
cries silently when alone.

She is not pretty enough for her classmates,
her grandma,
her brother, or
even strangers.
They all say she's ugly because her hair is curly.

A silent preteen,
terrified to speak,
has never been so frightened.
Each day she's a little less brave.
She is fading into the background.

She's not loud enough to be heard or understood.
No one notices her fear because she's too afraid to tell them.

A silent teenager who's had enough
signs up to do what she never could.
She's not certain she can do it now
but
something is guiding her.

She is brave enough to do what she must.
Though the fear is crushing her,
she will crush it back harder.

The terror grips her.
Her name is called.
A freakish calm hits her.
And she faces
the dark terror.

She slides from her seat
walks to the front
the timer starts
all turns brighter for her
as she speaks.

by Oriana
posted on 10/11/2009