Oh

 I hate Valentines day. 
Imagine growing up when and where I did. 
Around the people I did. 

"Let's go play smear the queer!" 
"Okay!  What's that!" 
"It's where you give the queer the ball and try to tackle them"
"What's a queer?"
"Here you start! Better run!"

But ya know what. 
I bounced back up every time. 
Had fun with it. 
Learned to take the hits. 

I don't want other children to have to live like that. 

And no matter how many cards were in that shoe box. 

To send the card I wanted would be a death sentence. 

That's not hyperbole. 

I had a gun to my head more than once. 

Never gave them the satisfaction.  

Stay safe out there.