How to Win the War

Every time you fall, stand up
When you lose a battle, keep moving
It doesn't matter whether you sprint away or can barely drag yourself by your forearms
Keep moving
When you win a battle, take a drink to celebrate and keep moving
Do not linger
When a boy comes to you with ice in his eyes and fire in his fingertips
Do not be drawn in and claim that you are in love
Leave before he robs you blind
When a boy comes to you with fire in his eyes and ice in his fingertips
You can stay a while
Sit and talk
Lie in his bed
But keep moving
When the kind woman with words that sound like a warm embrace asks you to talk with her
Tell her about the boy with the ice in his eyes
Tell her how he stole from you
Tell her about the long nights in his bed, never feeling quite like you belonged
Tell her about the way he held you, pretending you were someone else
Tell her how he choked you and never quite looked at you when you had sex
Tell her how badly he hurt you and why you can't sleep in that bed anymore
Listen to her when she says you should file a police report
Yes, it is still rape if he was your boyfriend
Yes, it is still rape if you consented at first but then said no
Yes, it is still rape if consent wasn't asked for in the first place
Baby girl, your body is not a bank to be stolen from
You aren't a car in a bad neighborhood
You weren't asking for it nor did you deserve it
Baby girl, try to find peace
Take back your body and your heart
Put them somewhere safe
Your heart is a million synonyms for shattered
Find the person with super glue who is willing to lend you their time and their ear
Find the person who makes you glow from the inside again
Do not worry about the boy with ice in his eyes
Keep moving
The battle has been lost but not the war