Would You Believe Me?

It was quiet. I wanted it to stay like that forever. But I knew better. They would be here soon. It was about that time. I could try to run and escape it all but it wouldn't help and even it did I wouldn't run. 'I'm not afraid of them'. I told myself. I repeated the line to myself over and over. Just like I had the night before and the night before that.

Then they came. They walked towards me with grins on their faces, pushing each other while pointing and laughing at other people that weren't like them. They hadn't even looked directly at me yet but I knew that they knew where I was. I was in the same spot everyday, reading.

I picked up my book and pretended to be reading. I knew it wouldn't help but I didn't want to seem as if I was just waiting for them to come.

Even though I was.

'I'm not afraid of them. I'm not afraid.' I repeated.

They got closer.

Anxiety was growing. I couldn't take it.

Closer.

'I'm not afraid.' I kept saying to myself. It wasn't working.

They were almost to me, looking at me with malice in everything about them.

Feelings rose up. I couldn't stand it. I wanted it all to go away. I wanted them to go away.

They were here, ready to say whatever they could to break me down.

I didn't give them a chance. I gave in to the emotions. I rose up and pushed them both back, hoping it would do anything. It did do something. It made them mad.

One of them grabbed me and shoved me into a tree. Pain shot through my entire body.

"Freak!" He yelled, the words slicing through my brain. The other one spat on me and they walked away, laughing.

Now let me ask you something.

Would you believe me if I told you I was a girl?