Consent.
Entry For "I Didn't Say That Out Loud" Challenge.
They never took it.
That’s what makes it worse.
I gave.
Like peeling off my skin
and handing it to wolves
because they smiled when they asked.
Not with teeth,
not with fists,
just with please and baby
and enough space for me to say no
and die by it anyway.
I nodded.
Not because I wanted to,
but because
I didn’t want to be asked again.
Because I thought that’s what
good girls in bad skin do.
I laid there,
a grave still breathing.
Let them dig.
Let them say
"She said yes."
They’ll never know
how silence can scream
in a voice so quiet
it never gets heard
outside your ribs.
Now
I wear a body that doesn't flinch.
That doesn’t trade comfort
for being called kind.
That says "stop"
with the kind of voice
you don’t question.
Next time,
I won’t write it on my spine
for you to read in hindsight.
I’ll say:
"I don’t like you like that."
"I don’t want this."
"And if I do it anyway,
it won’t be for you."
You called it consent.
I call it
a quiet suicide,
repeated.
But I lived.
And now,
my mouth is a gate
you won’t get through
without my joy
as your passport.
About the Creator
Cathy (Christine Acheini) Ben-Ameh.
https://linktr.ee/cathybenameh
Passionate blogger sharing insights on lifestyle, music and personal growth.
⭐Shortlisted on The Creative Future Writers Awards 2025.
Keep reading
More stories from Cathy (Christine Acheini) Ben-Ameh. and writers in Poets and other communities.
Comments (23)
You know it's good when you have to go back to the beginning before you get to the end. I could not help it with this one. You went to the deepest of deep. Consent. A touchy but needed topic. Some of the things you admitted here, I know that must've been hard. 'just with please and baby' the most manipulative thing someone with bad intentions could ever say to a lady. 'That's what good girls with bad skin do' there's just something about this line. It's like you're split into two. Oh man. Oh. I am going back to a place in my past that was quite similar to this. 'Let them dig, let them say she said yes.' 'Never gets heard outside your ribs'? Wow. Speechless yet again. Cathy oh my word this was amazing. The last stanza did not speak without power. How on earth did you drag it this far to remain the way it pulled at us from the start? My my my was this deserving of the reward you got in the challenge. Sending lots of hugs for the strength you developed 🤗❤️
How sis I miss this? Fabulous strength shown here. congrats on your placement
This was raw and fearless. The line “They’ll never know how silence can scream” gave me chills. It’s painful, powerful, and so necessary. Congratulations, Cathy — this truly earned its place. 👏🔥
Well deserved win. Powerful piece.
Some great words here, excellent poem
the closing stanza is an excellent way to wrap this- it's defiant and strong, but also so well-worded. Well done on this Cathy- it's an excellent piece that speaks of frustration and fear, but also of standing up.
Beautiful! Congratulations on your place in the challenge.
Wow! Simply powerful work, Cathy. Super congrats to you on this amazing win! 🥇🤩
Congrats, Cathy!! Such a powerful poem and well-deserved win!
Beautifully expressed. Congratulations on winning second place.
Congratulations on your well deserved place in the challenge!✅ An extremely potent poem. I especially like: “They’ll never know how silence can scream in a voice so quiet it never gets heard outside your ribs.”
This was so awesome! I really felt it and I am sooooo glad you won! Big hugs! <3 <3
Wooohooooo congratulations on your win! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
I'm speechless. This was so powerful and well written. I want to cry for you and cheer you on at the same time. Congratulations on such a well deserved win!
Such a brilliantly devastating piece—thank you so very much for sharing ♥️
A devastating piece with sword precision prose
Extremely powerful writing and message. A well-deserved win.
Congratulations on your 2nd place win!
WOW, I love your voice in this piece! It is so powerful! You flame-broiled this piece! Phenomenal writing Cathy! Simply outstanding! Yay! 🎉Congrats on placing 2nd place! BRAVO! Go gurl! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Congratulations on your 2nd place! 🎉🎉
Powerful writing. An emphatic yes is a far cry from “I guess” I think consent should be weighed against future regret. Because consent can be manipulated in so many ways, it’s kind of scary.
Omggg, quiet suicide is the perfect way to describe it. Loved your poem!
Wow great piece I love it! 🙏❤️👍