Uprising...

The first real hurt put on me was by a group of adolescent bullies. My face stung and throbbed from the impact of a stone wall.

The taste of blood fresh on my tongue. Kidneys crying out after the over-priced sneaker impaling.

That blindside attack put things in perspective for me at a young age. I was ready to die. The brutal laughter of the group was meant to dim my spirits. It fueled a fire that not one of them saw coming.

I healed, I rested, and I grew stronger. Not physically but in a way that I hadn't yet experienced. This would not define my character. Refusing to press charges and submit to other’s means of handling my situation surprised the ’rents but that couldn't give me the satisfaction I yearned for. The demand was that I handle my own.

The hierarchy of the group wasn't complex. As the most well-off and loudest of the spoiled rotten gang this kid took the lead. Followed by some mindless sheep that wannabes look down on he had to go down first. His house wasn't too far from the bus stop where the brutality went down. This morning was going to be it. My leg quivered with adrenaline. The spiked piece of wood slowly splintering in my clenched fist.

He strolled by the bush where I crouched. The demeanor of reckless abandon only adding to my rage. He should be watching his back and I was going to show him why…NOW! The piece of wood protruded from his back like some sort of familiar G.I. Joe accessory. Then the blood started running down. He dropped to his knees and reached back to try to figure out why, where, and how this came to be. “Hey asshole, remember me?”

I screamed as I kicked his ribs. My voice tremored with the rage. Tears filled my eyes. His lackeys heard the ruckus and made their way from the morning gathering.

This is it. I’m ready for you bitches now! The focus on me wasn't a rabble, though. It was a respectful awe. Not being ready for that reaction, I did the one thing that my mind defaulted to at that age and ran home.

The next day when no mention of the incident was brought to my attention I understood…While this may have not made me a man, I was no longer innocent to this level of perception.

Fear is a control that you voluntarily release.

Stay strong.