When I was in grade 8, a friend and I went to the park.
After playing for a while we both went to the dunny.
I came out first and I passed three mean looking boys about two or three years older than us.
I waited around the other side and I heard them picking on my friend inside while he was washing his hands.
Then I heard them beating him up and bashing his head on the sink.
He was crying and calling out for them to stop and yelling for help.
Every bone in my body wanted me to go and help, but I was too scared to move.
He lost teeth.
I told my friend that I had walked away and only came back at the tail end of the beating to see them walking out, too late to do anything.
I was so ashamed, that night I could barely sleep, shaking in bed from the adrenaline at the thought of what I should have done.
I already hated bullies, my dad used to beat me regularly.
I made a decision that night that I would never let anybody be hurt in my presence ever again, if I could help it.
I'd rather die than feel the shame of not trying to help a person in need.
Of course, since I had a kid my priorities have changed a little.
Her safety comes first.
After playing for a while we both went to the dunny.
I came out first and I passed three mean looking boys about two or three years older than us.
I waited around the other side and I heard them picking on my friend inside while he was washing his hands.
Then I heard them beating him up and bashing his head on the sink.
He was crying and calling out for them to stop and yelling for help.
Every bone in my body wanted me to go and help, but I was too scared to move.
He lost teeth.
I told my friend that I had walked away and only came back at the tail end of the beating to see them walking out, too late to do anything.
I was so ashamed, that night I could barely sleep, shaking in bed from the adrenaline at the thought of what I should have done.
I already hated bullies, my dad used to beat me regularly.
I made a decision that night that I would never let anybody be hurt in my presence ever again, if I could help it.
I'd rather die than feel the shame of not trying to help a person in need.
Of course, since I had a kid my priorities have changed a little.
Her safety comes first.
