Her Silence Was Never Consent

It was written because silence has been too comfortable for society.

Rape is not a “mistake,” not a “moment of anger,” and never a matter of clothing, time, or permission. It is violence. It is power abused. And too often, it is followed by another crime—the questioning of the survivor instead of the criminal.

Through these poems, I attempt to speak where many are forced into silence. These words do not belong to me alone; they belong to countless voices that were ignored, doubted, or buried under shame they never deserved.

I have chosen poetry because facts can be denied, but pain cannot. Poetry allows truth to breathe, anger to speak, and survival to be acknowledged without apology.

If you are a survivor reading this, know this: you are not alone, and you were never at fault. Your strength exists even on days you feel broken.

If you are a reader, I ask you not just to feel—but to question, unlearn, and stand against injustice wherever it hides.

This book does not offer comfort.

It offers truth.

And sometimes, truth is the first step toward justice.

— Yash Raj