Dark Secrets

The darkest things I know are not mine to tell. You see, I grew up easily ignored. I followed rules, I shut up, I completely disappeared. By the time I was eight, I thought I was incapable of crying because I refused to let myself break down. The only thing I allowed myself to do was listen.

I grew up in a small town, everything was gossip. And I heard every detail. I could tell you the names of people who were raped. Children who hurt their parents so badly they considered suicide. Names of kids and adults alike who killed dogs and threw cats for the fun of it.

I knew military guys who held regrets and kids who had to cry themselves to sleep every night because of their pasts. I knew people who got off easy for crimes they should have been put into prison for.

I knew and I never told a soul, because these secrets are not mine to tell.