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Takes One



Takes One

It only takes one
One child
One child to whine “We don’t want to play with you”
To make you crawl into den of discomfort and confusion

It only takes one
One kid
One kid to call you a Freak
To shatter your world and make you believe it if only just a little

It only takes one
One voice
One voice to echo through the school hallway “Hey Dyke! Hey Fag! Hey pay attention to me while I’m talking to you, you creep!”
To crack what barrier you set up around yourself and blow in a storm

It only takes one
One spoonful
One spoonful of applesauce thrown at you and your friends during lunch
To smother your fears with reality and shove a steaming plate of self-hatred down your throat.

It only takes one
One boy
One adolescent boy to ask “So why do you live in a trailer? Why are your clothes always dirty? Why are you so quiet?”
To make you think, “is there something wrong with me or is it them?”

It only takes one
One cut
One red sharp cut on your forearm that stings with disappointment and fear
To ruin the trust every human should have in themselves.

It only takes one
One day
One minute
One hour
One week
One year

To make one child
Lose their one life

But it only takes one
One “Hey cut that out. It’s not cool.”
One hug
One “I’m sorry”
One friend
One “I’m here”
One “What are you children doing?”
One human

It only takes one
To save millions

-Ella Hastings

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