Right arm, left arm swing, again! Right arm, left arm swing, repeat! Right arm, left arm, kick, "STOP!' Stop is what you wish he would say, over once and for all. Staring at your reflection, a version of you so black and blue even your own mother wouldn't recognize. You shed a tear, but don't feel bad. Swipe them away with the back of your palm. He is only a man, a boy if you ask me. He will not win. You know this in your heart yet you sustain. Why let yourself go through this torturer? Why deal with this pain? Have you forgotten? Forgotten that you're loved. You're more than just his punching bag, can't you see he's taken it too far? No! Not your blood! You've bared his child, your tears now a flood. You love this baby too much, too much he can't touch. He won't touch if it's the last thing you'll do. Louder and louder you scream, your voice will be heard.

"Please! Not my baby! Not my baby girl!" Now through the reflection you realize, he has no power. Now through the rear view, you see the past can now be the past. Our future now you see, we're free.

"It's okay baby girl," you say comforting me, "don't cry, mommy's here, no one will ever try to hurt us again, I promise."

The strength you've shown will not go unnoticed, the bravery you portray will pass down to me. Because of you, I am strong, because of you, I am free. Too many women in our community can relate to the pain and suffering that comes along with physical abuse. Too many women stay locked away in their houses fighting for their lives on the inside and then play pretend on the outside. Too many women and their children are victims of men that think it's okay to manhandle them. Do you feel like a man, when you push her around? Do you feel better now that she's face to the ground? Does it make you feel all good inside when she's forced to run and forced to hide? She flinches every time she is touched, looking over her shoulder is now a must. "No one will believe me," most of them say. Afraid he'll hurt them again one day. "I can't leave, you don't understand."

We believe you girls, and yes you can! We will fight back with you and show them who's boss. We will make a stand so they can pay the cost. The time is now so don't wait another day, tomorrow may never come if he has his way. So leave now, no need to pack, don't give him any reason to believe you'll be back. Hop in the car and hurry quick you have no time to wait for this insensitive jerk. Drive off into your sunset, your future awaits you far away from this scenery, now only a rear view memory.