**Trigger Warning: Sexual assault/ Rape**

These blank pages
Stare accusingly back at me
To put down a truth
That I cannot speak of.
Recollections
Retrospections
Searching inwardly
To find an external answer.
Why did I do that?
Why did I wear that?
Recriminations
Voices speak
All asking
Why did I go there?
Why wasn’t I stronger?
What did I do?
But they are drowned out
The loudest one
In my head
Questions,
Those keep going around,
Ones with no answers
Because…

Because they lie with you.
How could you do that,
Did you not see another person?
Why weren’t you strong enough,
To understand my “No”?
Why did you come here,
To take what is not given?
Who gave you the right to judge,
My consent by what I wore?
Why did you do that?

© Manivillie Kanagasabapathy