Wouldn’t you like to know of the dreams that haunt me? Of the nightmares that grab a hold and yank me down? Well I’ll tell you simply because I am exhausted of staying silent. Of waking up in cold sweat and dried tears, and of locking my fears away.

It begins in a fairly normal setting where everything starts out with vibrant colors, but quickly fade to darkness. There is always a man; you. You are chasing me and I try so hard to get away. I have no escape once you catch me in your tight grasp, I scream. But there is no sound that escapes from my mouth. We are surrounded by people who look through me as if I were translucent. No one can see me and no one can hear my pleas for help. You hurt me, you shake me violently, shouting words that force thoughts into my head; that attempt to make me believe that I am lost, broken, ugly, unwanted, and hopeless. The longer I’m with you, the harder it gets to ignore your words. You force your cold lips onto mine; I push and struggle, but there is no use. You laugh at me and tear my clothes off. I fight desperately to get away and get help, but you always find me. No one sees my pain or hears my cries. My wrists burn, my body aches, my hope is torn, but I keep fighting.

These are my recurring nightmares. Each time I go through this, each time I relive that day, I feel myself falling in a hole ready to give up. I can’t let you break my will to fight. You took everything else from me. I will not allow you to break me any further. I will be strong.