Gali

If only it was because  

you were fifteen  

and I was thirteen  

but it wasn’t.  

Not really.  

If only i had smiled differently,
worn a different skirt, a longer one,
if i had stayed quiet, let him win,
shrunk smaller, been easier to touch,
been harder to hurt, laughed when i wanted to cry,
cried when i wanted to scream.

Technically, I’m an immigrant;  

I wasn't born here. 

Technically, I’m too young, 

just shy of a year. 

Technically, I’m inexperienced, 

barely know the rudiments. 

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Every day 

I feel like I am constantly being watched.

Judged

And looked down upon.

I know that this might not be true 

But I feel the same regardless.

Because that is human nature.

When I come home from school

and my parents ask how my day was

my answer is almost always

"Irritating"

or

"Bad"

or

"A pain in the butt".

Why?

Because my classmates will

scream