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If they shoot, tell my story
If they shoot, tell my story
A boy writes a letter to his mother
She will know nothing of it
Until
Something bad happens
But he knows something will
He knows the colour of his skin
He knows that it means a possible death sentence
He gives his mom direct instructions
Of what to do if they try to silence his existence
He wants the world to know that he is the real victim
And his killers are the real villains
He would not allow the world to be ignorant
All the time He saw kids like him being killed
He wanted it to end with him
He had a plan
To expose the violence
Of a system trying to erase innocent kids like him
He wanted the world to know the truth about politicians
Who fake their sympathy
To change the narrative
As a distraction
For their evil actions
He knew she would know what he meant
He didn't want his death to be in vain
He wanted everyone to feel the pain
The type of pain black people experience everyday
Even if it means he has to die to make them pay
He wanted his mother to tell their story
Of when she found out she was pregnant And how she had already began to mourn him
Of her labour and how she faced discrimination
How her pain was ignored
Even though there was something wrong
How she feared losing her son
Because of their racism
He wanted the world to know about his childhood
How he grew up
And about his neighbourhood
A place where everyone understood
That many of their people might not make it out the hood
How the corrupt system locked them up
And collectively stole every back kids innocence
He told her to talk about his intelligence
How he beat the education system
And was preparing for college
And looked forward to his 18th birthday where he would get to experience adulthood
How it was all he could talk about
His final words was about how much he loved her
About how thankful
He was for her protection
Her love and affection
And said no matter what happens she will always be appreciated
A few weeks later
A month before his 18th birthday
One of his racist neighbours
Decided this would be his last day
Later his mom found his letter
Cried for her sons murder
Promising her son She would avenge him
She would get justice and make the world better
She would make sure the world remembers
Copyright ©
Layla Riley-Hill
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