the thick, hot air hit my skin as i stepped outside 

as i walked to my dads car, the serence silence was interrupted by whistles and hollers

i look up to see a car driving away filled with men much older than me 

it was then

my face, red-hot filled with embarrassment 

i realized 

i could not do what i once did 

walking alone to the store became a distant memory 

pants became my go-to whenever i left the house-

clothed in the same shame and fear i felt that day 

and everyday after 

it took years for me to realize 

i was not the problem 

i am not the problem 

i did not need to cover up 

nothing i did was ever an excuse for someone to touch, yell, or demean me

they were the problem 

not me