I stand desolately alone,

Bound by hope, stitched with resilience,

Searching for a slither of escape

From the invisible chains of human trafficking.

How did I get here?

How do I leave?

How do I protect others?

From falling into the same ravaging trap?

We are undone by lack of knowledge,

By deception dressed as endless opportunities. 

Vulnerability becomes an open doorway,

Manipulation the secure lock.

Suddenly, a life is owned,

A voice ruthlessly controlled,

A body mercilessly exploited.

They stole more than freedom.

They took safety, identity, choice.

Now trauma breathes with me.

PTSD lives in memory,

In sleep that never fully rests.

How do you rebuild

After being treated like property?

How do you reclaim a stable life?

When damage was deliberate?

Is there life after trafficking?

Or does survival always carry maimed 

scars?

Still, I stand.

Not healed, but just about breathing.

Not whole, but strongly resisting.

And in telling this heart-breaking story,

I leave a striking warning behind

So others may see the cruel cage

Before it locks them in like a fierce lion’s jaws

Truly speaking this is a rollercoaster of emotions that makes you relive the menacing horror 

No amount of therapy heals the scar of being subjected to Human Trafficking.

The PTSD becomes embedded in your being, it remains engraved in your tender heart.

You may physically escape the incident but you are forever caged in the darkness and emptiness of PTSD

Poem Description 

This poem is a haunting and powerful exploration of the physical, emotional, and psychological scars left by human trafficking. Through vivid imagery and raw emotion, the poem chronicles the loss of freedom, identity, and safety, and the enduring impact of trauma and PTSD. It reflects on survival, resilience, and the struggle to reclaim life after exploitation. With unflinching honesty, the poem serves as both a testimony and a warning, compelling readers to witness the horrors of trafficking and the strength required to resist and endure.