How was I suspose to know

I would be this strong ?

How was I  suspose to know my mom would choose crack over her kids?

How was I suspose to know my grandmother cared more about the money then us?

How was I suspose to know i would lose my brother at 14,?

How was i suspose to know the man that said he loved me,

was also the man who touched me?

How was i suspose to know i would survive it all?

The thing is I didn't Know

I didn't know my mom would get clean 7 years later

or

that my grandmother was blamed for my brothers death

or

that my uncle would be forgiving by family but yet i still had tears in my eyes

How could me, Imani be so strong and so scared of things i didn't know

but yet come out on top and stand for my rights,

How was i suspose to know that at 17 i would be still in high school

or that love could be found again

The thing is I didn't know!