“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”

By: Katelyn Tijerina

People are fond of the saying “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Yes, but it came close cries the 15-year-old beat up on the sidewalk, kicked out of his home for being a “snowflake” “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” at what cost cries the grown girl that flinches at loud noises, flashbacks to the childhood silenced by screams. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” says the boy who grew up on the rich side of town being praised for getting a “C” while a little girl cries in bed with red marks down her back because “she could’ve gotten an A if she wanted to.” “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” reads the headline of an article about a Muslim teenager shot by a gang for being a “terrorist.” They may never walk again but they’re still alive, right? That’s better, right? “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” reads the card from the aunt who asked, “well what were you wearing?” “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” I didn’t need to be stronger, cried the chorus of damaged souls, I needed to be safe. 

Citations:

Inspiration from: Person, and ProfilePage. “Artistic Writers on Instagram: ‘Unknown Source.’” Instagram, 30 Sept. 2019, www.instagram.com/p/B4uDsKOFIY_/?igshid=x00ucgxjp4cq.

Photo from: “Free Black & Red Paint Splatter – Red Splatter Theme for Twitter.” Free Wallpapers and Facebook Covers, profilerehab.com/theme/twitter/red_splatter_background_3.