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.