noun

1. the hair on her legs. they sneer. she does not break.

2. the stain when she bleeds through her jeans. they laugh. she does not break.

3. the snotty drip in their half moon smiles as they circle her like wolves circling prey. run from us, they snarl. but they don't let her.

4. the underwear he discards when he climbs up on him to make his claim. no, he yells, but he does not listen. he does not know until now that this is what breaking feels like.

5. the laughter. you should have enjoyed it.

6. the disbelief. are you sure you said no? what were you wearing?

7. the outrage. always, the outrage. we will not break.

adjective

1. i am proud of my flesh, the scars and stripes it bears.

2. i adore my womanhood, the curves and dips i trace with my fingers.

3. he is not afraid of softness, of tears and gentle brushes.

4. he is strong in the face of his peers, who believe he is weak.

5. she is big in the face of the world, who believes she is small.

action verb

1. standing.

2. fighting.

3. marching.

4. not breaking.

5. not breaking.

6. not breaking.

-c.h.