You have to understand at 5 that your parents don’t love each other
But you have to make sure your brother is okay
Because he deserves to have fun and be a kid
Because you’ll turn over childhood to make sure he gets one

You have to understand that your gender makes you a target
And the clothes you wear doesn’t help you become less of one
So in turn you watch over your back at all times.
I was frightened to step outside at 7.

You have to understand that your looks are the only things that people care about
It doesn’t matter what it is: eyes, stomach, thighs, arms, your whole body is wrong
The unwanted male gazed I learned about at 7 is back to haunt me
I hit puberty at 12 and that’s my fault. I’m sorry.