Female Genital Mutilation// The Air We Breathe
6 years old. ‘That’ day has come ‘lay down’ ‘legs apart’ Hushed. ‘Strip.’ Forcefully stripped. fire heat knife slit slash cruel Bloodied ‘Shhhhhhhhhh’ ………………. ‘LEGS APART!’ sand grass; shoved shut me. shut my hole. ‘Done’ Done, it was. head eyes heavy silence ……………….. Ah What had happened to me? Ouch wincing numbness with pain I can’t walk Somebody?! Anybody around?! one foot after another shaking hastily bathroom door. Closed. sigh of relief finally, some privacy sound of shower, roaring already bare naked confused? outraged? Should I be outraged? Am I allowed to be outraged? leaning against the wall Thankfully, the water is there to listen and drown my voice No questions just one actually, only one word: why why why WHY WHY WHY ……………………. ‘to protect your honour’ they say they keep saying honour honour honour my honour is my hymen? my honour is in my vagina? by Ashmita BhattacharyaFeatured image legacy
