.

 

A sea of colors yet all they can see is red. 

Red, but not like a freshly picked apple. 

Red, but not like the intricacies of a rose. 

Red, but not like the shimmer of a ruby. 

 

Rather, red like shame. 

Red, like embarrassment. 

Blood. 

 

As if they don’t have it coursing through their veins. Their arteries. Their body. 

They point and laugh, they stare and whisper. 

As if they aren’t people too. 

 

From the time we come of age, we are taught that same shame, that same embarrassment. 

We absorb it,  we learn it, we allow it. 

Smuggling our tampons to the bathroom as a criminal would their contraband. 

Avoiding the male cashiers eye like a liar would their parent. 

 

But, red is ours.

Our passion. Our power. Our voice. 

So, it’s time we take back our color.