this is for the girls who were too young to understand

This is for the girls who were too young to understand.
This is for the girls who were molested before they knew their abc’s,
for the girls who were raped before they could count to 10.
This is for the girls who were beaten to the ground and forced to help themselves up,
for the girls who were betrayed by those closest to them.

This is for the girls who cringe when they are touched,
for the girls who are ashamed to look at themselves in the mirror.
for the girls who are used and abused by their teachers, babysitters, brothers, fathers.
This is for those grade school girls who hide under their beds when they go home,
for the girls who don’t know they deserve better,
for the girls whose faith is fading.

This is for the girls who won’t make it to their first period,
and for the girls who will weep when they first miss their period.
This is for the girls who will never fall in love,
and for the girls who will fall head over heels for men who hit them.
This is for the girls who will ache for years and year and years.
This is for the girls who will forget how to trust.
This is to those girls:
You are precious.