*I was just trying to enjoy my New Year's dinner,
trying to turn it into "happy,"
when you struck out that topic again.
Tossed my self-confidence into the dustbin near us,
compared me to animals,
made fun of my color.
You joked about my chipped teeth—
but it was my heart that shattered instead.
You told me my nose just needed to be darker
so it could match a bear's.
And our friend?
She didn’t say anything.
She just… laughed.
She went along.
Then you slipped out a quick "sorry,"
because it hurt your ego
to admit you were wrong.
Then you gossiped
about how I was overreacting.
But trust me—
it feels bad.
It really, really hurts.*
And a quick message to the entire world:
DON’T COMMENT ON SOMETHING
A PERSON CAN’T CHANGE IN FIVE MINUTES.
Please.