Shadows of a Child by Ciara Sadie Chetty

Silent shadows, heavy on my mind

Echoes of a time I can't rewind

Tears fall like rain, washing away the pain

Trying to find my way, trying to heal again

I was just a child, only nine years old

A world so cold, stories untold

Your touch was betrayal, your words so cruel

Left me broken, lost in a shadowed school

Why did you choose to hurt me?

Innocence stolen, feelings unfree

Can’t escape these scars inside

Seeking peace, trying to survive

You hurt me, left a mark so deep

In my mind, your memory I keep

Wish I could forget, wish I could run

But I’m scarred by what you’ve done

Eyes searching for love, but finding fear

Trust shattered, nothing’s clear

I looked for love in all the wrong places

Drowning in a thousand different faces

Why did you choose to hurt me?

Innocence stolen, feelings unfree

Can’t escape these scars inside

Seeking peace, trying to survive

You hurt me, left a mark so deep

In my mind, your memory I keep

Wish I could forget, wish I could run

But I’m scarred by what you’ve done

Healing takes time, I hope to find

The strength to leave it all behind

From the jungle of my mind, I’ll break free

Find the hope that resides in me

Though the scars remain, I’ll stand tall

Rising above, I’ll conquer all

Your shadow no longer holds me tight

I’m seeking the morning light