Reflection – KURIS Litfest 2015

Illustration by Justine Bacareza

I remember the first time I saw her

She looked right back at me with eyes that were too familiar

I stared at her mimic my ever move

I stared at the way her hair draped around her shoulders

And how she tilted her head as her hand reached out to me

I stared at her and I knew who she was

She was me

She was the result of centuries of torment and pain

She was the girl lurking in the shadows whispering stories of abuse

She was the girl screaming for help while people walked past her

She was the girl gasping for air remembering how it felt to be suffocated

She was the victim

I stared at her through my reflection

She walked slowly towards me

I blinked and she was right in front of me

“Save me”