“Go to sleep, 

It’ll all be better in the morning”. 

The words leave her lips 

As her body shakes with fear. 

 I follow her instructions, 

Falling asleep within minutes. 

The air is still and quiet.

“We’re Not Going Back” is my last thought as my eyes shut. 

Suddenly I hear the floorboards creak, 

Light footsteps heading for my room. 

My mother’s face is tear stained as she calls my name. 

I sit up in shock, 

No.. No.. No.. 

I’ve seen this movie before, 

8 years ago before we knew what chaos was in store. 

It feels like a bad dream, 

The world’s worst sequel has come to theaters. 

My body goes numb 

As my mother’s soft voice delivers the news. 

This can’t be happening… 

Tears begin to flow from my eyes

As my grasp on my childhood stuffed animal tightens. 

My mother’s warm embrace can usually solve my problems,

But as she hugs me tighter,

We both know this is a problem even her hugs can’t solve. 

We sit in silence on my bed as 

I feel my shoulders begin to shake. 

Tick… Tick.. Tick…

I can hear my rights depleting by the second. 

I am no longer the political seventeen year old 

But the terrified nine year old crying in my mother’s arms 

Once again over the same man. 

My voice shakes as I say

“I’ll never get to vote.” 

My mother tries to comfort me 

But there is nothing she can say to take my fear away.