I got my period at the end of elementary school,
During the summer vacation.
I didn’t know what it was.
I thought I was sick,
Or had some sort of problem.
I asked my mother in tears.
“It’s normal,” she said.
She didn’t explain anything.
“Normal how?” I asked her.
She still didn’t explain anything to me.
I was told the same thing all girls are told,
“It’s inappropriate to talk about these things.
Don’t let anyone know.”
I had to be sneaky every month,
Even though I thought it was something normal,
And didn’t need to be hidden.
I wasn’t disgusted the first time,
When I was still unaware of what it was.
I wasn’t disgusted,
But I was always afraid that someone would find out.
This created a conflict in me,
That still exists until now,
But I’m trying to deal with it.