The Pain They Inflict Poem by Scarlett Reid

Minding your own business you walk into a building
everyone turns and glares at you.
They whisper to each other, spreading they’re lies.
You take a deep breath, hold in the sobs that are battling to escape. Tell yourself that they simply don’t matter, that they can’t hurt you. Despite your best efforts, it gets to you.
It’s like getting kicked in the gut tons of times.
Your ribs and heart are bruised, scarred, fractured, broken.
You long to breathe but the air won’t reach your lungs.
You haven’t taken a breath in so long, you’re afraid if you do it’ll all come tumbling back
The horrible memories you pushed down so far, you thought you wouldn’t have to deal with them ever again.
Haven’t breathed or talked in so long you don’t remember what your voice sounds like.
But you couldn’t possibly speak again.
If you do, they’ll realize you’re still alive when you tried so hard to be invisible.
Cause if you’re dead they can’t hurt you anymore.