I want to thank you

No, really

 

Thank you, Father

 

Thank you for all the sleepless nights

Thank you for making me fear for my sisters' safety

Thank you for beating me until I stopped resisting 

Or until I was too tired to resist

 

Thank you, Father

 

Thank you for making them watch

Thank you for shoving your fist in my mouth so that I wouldn't scream

Thank you for telling me that I would take it and like it

And that it would all be over soon

 

Thank you, Father

 

Thank you for dragging me by my hair at the crack of dawn

Thank you for putting me on display, like a doll, for your friends

Thank you for letting them take turns

It wasn't as bad after the third or fourth time 

 

But really, Father, 

 

Thank you for teaching me the meaning of fear

Thank you for teaching me how to be brave

Thank you for teaching me how to fight

Because if you hadn't

 

I would still be afraid