Forgiveness

By Safoorah Aafreen

Men get a slap to the wrist and people get over it

Women are expected to get over it

expected to forgive him and move on

forget

Forgive and forget

As if they’ve not just been traumatised

As if the cruel act hasn’t just forced their life out of their body

That some part of their soul has been imprinted with the act

As if forgiving would stop making them feel

And want to rip their skin off

Just to not feel the touch anymore

To not feel the nails being forcefully dragged across their body

The sick and sleazy grin on their face

the tears and fear in her eyes

Rubbing their skin

Just. to not feel their touch anymore

Feel like they’re in their skin

Is it fair?

She’s going to have this hollow part in her

That she feels can never be filled.

Is it truly fair?

That someone else’s actions

Makes her body tremble

her eyes widen

Women are not braille

You don't need to touch them to understand them

Only if they knew that

only if they got out of their power hungry state

to view women as humans

and not as someone to be controlled

She’s not someone's mother, daughter, sister or wife

She’s someone.

Shouldn't that be enough?

Does forgiveness ensure that she gets her skin back?

That she feels comfortable in her own skin?

Instead of a stranger’s?

The victim feels like they’re broken

While the predator just moves on with their life

Not fair isn't it?

By Safoorah Aafreen