#NSFW
I Told.
He was kindly Grandfatherly When he asked His grey blue eyes peering Over the top of his eyeglasses Leaning down toward me Live with him? Or her? But No words erupted from me He asked again Clarifying I looked down and away Too young to find the words I think the Judge realized then That there was a bigger problem He focused in on me It was my eyes that told him -- The second time I told My family It was the gardener He did it in broad daylight In full view of everyone But he'd been their gardener for years And I was just this unruly Rebellious Kid Surely I misunderstood Surely he was just playing Cognitive dissonance remained Until others spoke up A year later -- The third time I told I only told my friends He was a sort of step-brother He was 18 I was 11 He was very big And very mean And I was only there for summer break -- The fourth time I told My mom Over the phone She took it seriously Got me help But when it was clear That this help was just for show I let it go Yet still barricaded my Bedroom door Every time she stayed a night away -- The fifth time I told My Vice Principal About my high school teacher So I was removed from the classroom Placed in a trailer for the semester "Self study", no curriculum He continued to teach the entire year Emboldened Knowing there weren't any consequences for him A. Adams, 2018.
