Silence

I let him hit me

spit in my face

to protect not me

not them

but her.

We’ve been through this before

the chains,

the glass,

the fists.

not her.

A shove so hard

the wood

protecting the window

breaks.

A split second thought-

do I rise,

do I speak,

but I don’t.

We’ve been through this before-

the homes,

the systems.

alone,

not her.

We could survive

if it were just us.

Not knowing

was the risk

so-

I let him hit me,

break me,

to protect not me

not them

but her.

To be the oldest

is to know better:

not all battles

are won

by rising.