You can unfollow me if you want to.

I won’t hunt you down and demand to know why.

I won’t make passive-aggressive text posts about losing a follower.

I won’t assume you hate me.

It’s okay if we just don’t share enough interests anymore, or you need a lighter dash, or I post a lot of things you don’t want to see.

And if there is something personal, if something’s not cool between us, you can talk to me.

If I’ve done something to hurt you, you can tell me.

I’d rather know.

But whatever the reason, I hope no one thinks they have to grit their teeth and scroll past my posts if they don’t want to.

It’s okay if you want to go.

1. They tell us to carry mace, flashlights, whistles
A gun.
And then sell us pants with no pockets.

2. “Well, you got a purse,” the man says.
Yeah, just excuse me while I fumble through
my bag in a dark alleyway.
I’m sure my attacker will patiently wait.

3. They say don’t drink.
And then tell us to
Ruin his libido with piss.
I don’t know about you,
But I get stage fright even with a full bladder. 

4. They say take a martial arts class,
Learn to defend yourself.
Ten years into that pursuit now, myself
And my sensei’s never turned to me and said,
“Why don’t you wear your heels into class?
Wanna make sure you can do a proper take down in them.”

5. “Don’t wear your hair up,” says the person
Who’s never fought loose, waist-length hair in a windstorm.
Or pulled it out of sticky lip gloss for the umpteenth time.

6. “Carry your keys between your fingers like a weapon.”
Because three inches of dull metal
Is really menacing to someone who is bigger and stronger 
And determined to hurt me.