P.S.

×We Would've×

I wrote this poem specifically for #MyFreedomDay
It's from the perspective of a girl who was trafficked.

~

We would've been little girls like any other:

Dreaming of ponies, princes and castles.

Most of us were taken away before the age of ten,
No experience, not once, and yet, these strange men.

The only men we would've known would be our father's and our brothers:
The ones who would provide for us, teach us, and guide us.

But, no, we were captured and taken away,
Mistreated and tortured every single day.

We would've had comfort and a shoulder to cry on,
A hand to hold ours, a pair of arms to embrace us.

Although we were caged and treated as animals would,
We stood by each other, as little girls should.

We would've had homes to go to when the day turned to dusk,
And a family of stuffed animals to take care of and love.

But each day we stood, awaiting our turn,
"When will it end?", our hearts often yearned.

We would've grown up to be independent and strong,
We would've learnt the difference between right and wrong.

Some of us made friends who didn't survive.
It broke us, all of us, every single time.

And those of us who managed to make it out alive,
Will tell you the stories of the screams and the cries.

And now, today, we stand together as one,
For the world must see that what's done can not be undone.

~

I think Freedom Day is vital. We must all be conscious of what happens around us. Women and children, mostly children, are trafficked on a day to day basis without us knowing. It breaks my heart to know that there are children far younger than me who are forced into slavery and labour. Did I even know what that meant when I was that age? And it's real. It's a serious problem. Please, let's work together and raise awareness.

Freedom to me is having the benefit of learning and going to school. Most of us take school/work for granted. But, honestly, those children don't even get to go to school. They don't get to learn. They don't know that what they're doing is wrong. Isn't that just heartbreaking?

I'm sorry if I ruined your mood, but this is real.

What's freedom to you?

#MyFreedomDay