A little girl of 12.
Her body is changing and she knows why.
She has read about it in school
and her mother said that it'll happen to her soon.
But, there are other changes she doesn't understand.
Why is she stared at wherever she goes?
Not only her face, but also her body.
Why do they look at her that way?
She is uncomfortable and wants to hide.
A girl of 13.
She is in a train, happy,
returning from a nice vacation with family.
The train is still and she's near the door, alone.
A guy comes, hits her chest and gets off the train in less than five seconds.
She is left, alone again, in shock and denial.
Only this time, the loneliness is more profound.
She locks herself in the washroom, cries, washes her shirt 'cause she feels violated.
Then pretends as if nothing happened.
A girl of 14.
She is shopping for a new jacket.
The salesman is helping her with the stubborn zip.
But, only she knows what's going on behind the cover.
How his fingers press down hard on her above her jeans.
He smirks at her then, as if he owns her, but she knows he doesn't.
She leaves immediately.
It hurts down there for days.
A girl of 15.
It is a pleasant evening.
She is strolling around with a friend, by her home, her safe haven.
A bike approaches too close to them.
He gropes her friend and speeds away.
She tries to be brave and shouts after him.
But, deep down, she's scared.
A girl of 16.
She is cycling off to the nearest shop.
The road is deserted except for one man.
He whistles at her and gestures towards his unzipped pants.
She cycles away faster, afraid of what he might do next.
She takes a different, longer route back home.
A girl of 17.
She is in a crowded metro.
She feels a hand on her waist and something else on her lower back.
Before she could react,
the doors open and there's a rush.
She gets off and walks home, numb.
A strong girl of 18.
She is walking down the road.
Not scared at all, just wary.
She is on her toes now, wherever she goes.
No one will ever catch her off guard now.
No one will ever take advantage of the element of surprise,
or the suddenness of attack.
She knows that not all men are same,
but she doesn't know which ones are.
She won't be scared ever again.
She will stand up for herself, always.
She just misses being carefree.
She is forced to be alert all the time
and subject everyone to the scrutiny gaze.
But, that is the sacrifice she has to be willing to make.
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