Words

I am an adult
Nervous trembles consume me
Like a child saying their first speech at school
Into my personal shell I cower
Safety from the slashing
Years of belittlement
Of being told my opinion is nothing
Nothing more than that of a silly mind

I left
Learned to find my voice again
I am an adult
Finally my words resemble that
I shielded myself from him
I found strength in the tiny syllables
A helping hand aided in the search for my missing chords
They had returned

A simple concept for so many
‘Stand up for oneself when being ill treated’
It has taken years for me to return
To a place where my words matter
Where my words defend me
Where my words make others reconsider
Where my words make a difference to a situation
My words.