When I first found this poem in a book, the author was listed as "annonymous".
And then years later I read another story about this annonymous girl... she had killed herself not too long after she wrote this poem. This poem means so much more to me than just the words.

If you are being abused, mistreated, threatened, hurt... There are people in this world, and in your town to help you. You can't stay and make it better. You can't stay and hope they will change. They don't. If you think there is still hope for the future - you are right. But you have to leave and get to a place you are safe before you can work on the problem. Call and get help. You don't have to be alone. Please.

If someone you know is being abused, call your local domestic violence hotline for advice on how you can offer support.

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Debra Johnston; all rights reserved

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