Saw Me and Walked Away

The first time was in 7th grade.
My hair was braided and I was wearing the school’s gray coat.
He was on a motorcycle.
He grabbed my ass.

I stopped going to school at that time.
I didn’t know what harassment was, but there was a rape incident being talked about on TV.
I thought he had raped me.
When I finally found the courage to start going out again, I would hide behind other women in the street.

The other time, which was worse, was when one of my school teachers—who didn’t know me,
Saw me trying to beat up a harasser who was stronger than me.
I tried and failed to beat him up.
The teacher saw me and just walked away.
Everyone in the street saw me and walked away.

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