125. And I Can Remember Them Punching Me

And I can remember them punching me laughing as they did so until at last the bell went for end of break and they’d run off leaving me in a heap on the muddy ground I remember half accepting it guess I didn’t know any better at the time I just wished that it would stop so that all the tears and pain would go away I remember being afraid of the next time thinking that all of it was my fault maybe I’d asked for the beatings somehow but how or why I could never fathom I can remember the feeling of shame as all the bruises would start to show for me they were no trophies to be displayed merely signs of my own weaknesses But as I grew the bruises dwindled to less than a handful in number even the beatings seemed to almost stop maybe I proved I’m that not their punch bag possibly in some way I earned their respect Even the fear began to shrink until I was able to push it all away still get the odd flashback now and then but now it doesn’t bother me Even now when I am fully grown and almost all the bruises are long healed I still remember what happened those days but I now would want to ask the bullies that despite every attempt that you made to ruin my life have you seen what I have now become?