Down the rabbit hole we go

truth or lie they don’t know

did I get the chance to say yes or no?

I know.

But will they believe me

when I say,

he cornered me in

a dark, deserted alley,

and started to take off

his clothes.

Light from the street reflected

across his white chest

And then

he put his mouth on mine,

alcohol in his breath

Put his hand up my skirt

and decided I was his.

And will they believe me

when I say,

I told him to stop

Begged him,

Pleaded with him

and even asked him.

Hopeless, I yelled for help.

“There’s no one there, you little girl,” he slurred.

And then

he laughed.

Foul words came spewing

out of his mouth as

I tried to block

out the pain

that was emanating

From down there.

Down the rabbit hole we go

truth or lie they don’t know

did I get the chance to say yes or no?

I know.

But will they believe him

when he testifies,

saying that I lied.

saying that I asked for it.

Lying

was not hard for him,

and

neither was playing

the victim.

And will they believe me

when I testify against him?

Will they think I tell the truth?

I know I do

I know I did

and I know he lied

because I was the victim,

and he raped me.

Down the rabbit hole we go

truth or lie they don’t know

did I get the chance to say yes or no?

I know.

But did the public believe me

when I testified?

Because my name is now

in the news.

Now, I face

the consequences of accusing

a white male of rape.

Death threats,

people say I deserved it,

slut shame me,

a whore.

They think I lied.

Because apparently a woman

who claims to have been raped

by a white man

is always lying.

The second trial date was set.

All I did was hope

that the jury believed me,

the judge believed me.

And then they were ready

to decide his fate.

Jail or no jail?

the jury conferred

they made a decision.

No.

Jail.

Time.

Down the rabbit hole we go

truth or lie they don’t know

did I get the chance to say yes or no?

I know.

All he did was smile

as he was escorted out.

After,

The public was both

Outraged and satisfied with his fate.

I never knew I had

So many allies,

Both victims and others alike.

They were angry.

They demanded a change.

But others were feeling satisfied,

Those who believed I lied.

And when I got home,

all I could do was

sit and think

About this injustice,

and how to make

those who believed him

realize this

is not okay, and

Never.

Will.

Be.