victories

i thought that

being a woman was

the intangible fact

that we were raised to

agree and yes,

even when we

disagree and no.

or it was the boy who

made me feel

like a man

at the pool

because of my

body,

or another boy

after we simply kissed

under the maple trees

who told the entire school

that we had sex.

my friends

whispering in the dark

of men or boys who

touched them,

memories that are both

crystal clear

and

murky water.

watching them

walk

free

with

memories of

no no no

echoing

within.

though, a battle,

it is a battle

won

and what a strength it is to

overcome.

(we are not our losses, but our victories)