Rodgers > Random Reflection 5

Reflection on the issue of Human Trafficking

a cry pierces the darkness
and evaporates into the air, unheard
a girl, dark hair and black eyes
fishnets adorning her legs and red paint, her lips
overlooked by the world
like an animal, metal bars encase her
there is no escape from the monsters that own her
her innocence, sold for $50
her body, abused until it has become numb
dead to pain, dead to feeling
betrayed by her own father
she has become an object
a piece of property to be bought and sold
in order to live, she must become an actress
masking her terror with a seductive smile
“look nice for the customer” her pimp purrs
“or else you'll regret it”
shuddering, she touches the bruises that cover her arms
and nods her head in agreement
she is not afraid of death, but looks at it with cold eyes
hell could not be worse than this
and so she goes each minute
a walking corpse
hoping futilely for one day without pain
tomorrow, she will be turning seven.