One Out of Six

By Keeley Bernard

Met a guy 

who looked me in the eyes

and told me he loved me

whole time, it was a lie

said that he loved my body

and he loved my humor

that he loved my smile

and that he wished he had met me sooner

I was something he wanted

and he’s a man who was not used to hearing “no”

that’s why he held me down as I cried

and he wouldn’t let go

his hands intertwined in mine

his lips pressed up against my ear, 

whispering that he loves me

with no response from me, a girl frozen in fear

I was told this was love

deceived, I believed it

thought the use of force was just passion,

showing that he truly means it

but love is respect

not a man with his hand around your neck

not a man who takes your innocence

not a man who destroys your self-image, self-respect

love would have been to realize I said no

and accept my decision

take your hands off of me and don’t make me a number,

part of 1 out of 6 women

About the Author

Keeley Bernard, Tuskegee University

Keeley Bernard is a senior double majoring in English and mathematics at Tuskegee University. She is a 2024–2025 HBCU White House Scholar, a Tuskegee University Presidential Scholar, and an Alvin Blount Scholarship recipient. She hopes to one day become an HBCU president, working to address educational inequalities and give back to the communities that have given her so much, including Mother Tuskegee.