Hi everyone im glad i join this community beacause im someone who like to write things down and this will help to improve my writing skills.
I don’t even know how to explain this topic, but I will try because it is something I feel deep inside me. “I’m not prey.” When I saw this topic, my heart beat fast because many times in my life, I have felt like prey. Like someone that is always hunted, always chased, always targeted. But not anymore. I have found my voice and I now say it with my full chest I am not prey.
Growing up, I was always the quiet type, I never liked trouble, and I always try to please people just to make everybody happy. Even when I’m not happy myself. Some people see that as weakness. They take advantage of people like that. I have been used, deceived, and talked down just because I don’t like fighting or shouting. But they forgot that even gentle people have limits.
There was a time I entered a relationship that almost broke me. He saw my kindness as weakness. He talked to me anyhow, treated me like I didn’t matter, and even made me feel like I was lucky to have him. I almost lost myself. I was always scared to speak my mind. I used to beg for attention. Imagine begging for love from someone that claims to love you. Until one day, I looked at the mirror and I could not recognize the person I saw. I looked empty. That day I said to myself, I am not prey.
From that day, I started working on myself. I started to speak up more I stopped saying “sorry” every time just to make others feel comfortable. I stopped giving people the power to define my worth. It was not easy ooo Sometimes I still feel small, but I remind myself that I’m not the victim anymore.
Even in my country, Nigeria, as a young woman, you will face a lot of challenges. People will try to silence you, society will expect you to stay small, but you must rise. People will expect you to accept every condition, every pain every disrespect. But no, you must rise above it.
I now walk with my head high, not because I have everything figured out, but because I know who I am becoming. I may be soft, but I am strong. I may not shout, but I have a voice. I am no longer that scared girl that used to hide in her shell. I am not prey.
To anyone reading this, especially if you’ve been treated like you are less than what you are, please hear me you are not prey. Don’t let the world eat you alive. Find your fire, even if it’s small. Hold on to it and never let anyone make you feel like you don’t matter.
