Afraid to cross your path, your lecherous stare behind the bush of your hair, I take a circuitous route home.

Afraid you’ll follow me home or try to burn my skin to the bone, I take the circuitous route home.

Afraid of all the ugly things you’ll say, about me on my wall, the way you’ll deface my social media, I keep my head down and press “heart” on the dog photo instead of sharing my political opinion.

But when you attack my sister(s) with whom I have no blood ties, when you reduce her to a bag of flesh and bones, I forget to be afraid.

Not afraid to support my sister when you pull her down.

Not afraid to have a verbal duel with you in your own town.

Not afraid of YOU anymore, for I’m rummaging through my arsenal to make sure you RESPECT every woman you come across without having to stoop down to personal attacks.

….

first draft