"speak"

I hate you

for who you were

and I love you

for who you are;

just because they cannot recognize

the pain and the trauma,

just because you cleaned the blood and concealed the scars

does not eradicate their existence-

your fear of their feelings

does not invalidate your own

and the ghosts you see

and the ones you will become

only haunt the silent version of you,

the one that never speaks up.