I Know

I know a woman

who battles depression alone

because she doesn't want to be a burden to her parents.

I know a mother

who puts up with her abusive lover

because she wants her son to have a father in his life.

I know a girl

who dyes her hair bright red

because she feels invisible to the world.

I know a boy

who lived under a bridge

because his mother couldn't afford much else.

I know a brother and sister

who had to grow up without a father

because he thought drugs were more important.

I know a girl

who wanted to die

because she was sick and tired of lies

I know a teen

who dances at clubs

because she needs to feed her two boys.

I know a child

who was taken advantage of

because he knew she couldn't fight back

I know a kid

who at fourteen became anorexic

because someone would always laugh when they ran.

I know a man

who thinks he’s ugly

because he grew up hearing nothing else.

I know a person

who killed themselves

because they couldn't handle the pain they felt.

I know life is hard

because we start off wrong

and we get dealt a bad hand.

I Know.