What She Wanted

(from Brainstorms)

“This is what you wanted!”
screamed letters on a tiny screen.

As if she had a choice.

As if it were a matter
of deciding what to wear
or what flavor of ice cream she preferred.

As if someone had told her when she was small,
“You can choose to be anything you want
When you grow up.”

You can be yourself,
or you can be loved.

You can tell the truth,
or you can be included.

You can speak your mind,
or you can be accepted.

As if choice was a luxury,
when all she ever wanted
was not to have to choose.