It's the shadow in my room at night,

it's the random bumps in the dark

that make my heart race and jump.

The creature in the dark room

that I dare not enter first,

The eyes on my back

when I am sure that I am all alone.

 

Fear is the animal hiding in the shadows.

 

It's the man walking behind me

that makes me want to walk faster.

The feeling that I need to walk

with my keys between my fingers.

The reason that my mother says

"never talk to or take a ride from strangers."

 

Fear is the mystery man waiting to attack.

 

It is why I keep my hand on my drink.

The feeling that grips me hard

when I feel someone graze against my chest or my ass.

It's the uneasiness when someone at a party

hands me a red cup

and they get upset if I don't drink it.

It's my throat tightening when I feel someone grab me

inappropriately in a crowd and not knowing who did it.

 

Fear is the untrusted hand.

 

The adrenaline that makes my heart race,

The cortisol entering my bloodstream.

A feeling that I ignore

For the sake of helping someone else.

A feeling that I transform into strength.

 

Fear is the sword in my scabbard.

 

Fear drives me to fight, to scream at the top of my lungs

that "we will take back the night."

No more will we be afraid that

the dark corner

the mystery man

the untrusted hand

will come for us and steal us away.

No more will I stand by, let slide, or ignore.

No more.

No more.