I Fell Down

Rebecca (age 7)

It is incredible to me that there are children like we were: Young, vulnerable, and innocent; victims of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. When I look at our faces from ago, I don't remember us being so young, and I have to wonder how we ever survived...

I Fell Down

In the grocery people look

Stare

Some ask her, the little girl

“What happened?”

She looks at them

But not in their eyes

She says softly

Quietly

“I fell down”

Others see her

In her yard

At her church

They ask about her arm

Suspended in plaster

White

Could this be the second time?

She answers them timidly

Softly

“I fell down again”

The little girl against the wall

Crouching

Clasping her knees

Tightly

To her chest

Mama stands tall

Strong

Her fists are hard knots

Ready

Mama asks her

“What will you tell them?”

The little girl is looking

Down

Worn blue jean drink in

Tears

Small body aches, the little girl

Hurts

But she replies

Whispers

“I fell down”

~Rebecca Reece 1994

What can you do in your own community to stop the abuse and exploitation of children?

Find out what you can do to help here: www.childhelp.org/home

If you know of a child who is being abused, call the Child Abuse Hotline 1.800.4-A-CHILD.

Later in my life when talking to the adults that knew my family, most of them apologized to me for knowing something was going on, but not doing anything about it.

Children need help, not apoligies...