I was but a child when
I learnt what it meant to lose your identity.
So I searched for it silently,
but I did not find it at the bottom of a bottle,
nor a packet of cigarettes.
I did not find my self-respect in a new man’s bed.
I could not see to the other side,
was I dead or just painfully alive?
You tell me.
I thought that fairy tales were child’s play
and hide and seek was just a game,
but I find myself hiding from the truth
and seeking solace in yet another poison.
And when the reality broke through, like breaking skin,
I did not bleed the pain I hoped I would.
A scar of numbness formed quickly instead.
Chloë Jessica is a 16-year-old from the UK. She’s been writing poetry and short stories for about 6 months. Literature is one of her passions alongside music. Some of her favorite authors include Veronica Roth, John Green, and, of course, Jennifer Niven.
Cassoday Harder is a twenty-year-old photographer inspired by youth, femininity, and summer. View more of her work on Flickr or visit her website.