A community of hope

I am that girl

Who has no one to talk to

No one wants to be close to

And no one wants to support

I am also that boy

Who does not want to mingle

Who is sometimes called antisocial

And feels comfortable by himself

I am that girl

Who is looked down upon

With little expectations

And no hope of rising

I am also that boy

Who comes last in class

Who is beaten when he fails

And does not desire education anymore

I am that girl

Who is called names

Who is body shamed

And laughed at at the slightest opportunity

Let us therefore create

A community of hope

For that girl/boy who feels like

The punctuation mark called “Full stop”.

By: Blessing Ekanem