The Knife

Paper Summary:

This paper is an exercise in creative writing focusing on the craft element of symbolism and trauma. The paper describes a girl who has a problem with cutting herself. The paper infers that she does this because she feels guilt and shame about being sexually abused by her next door neighbor. The paper concludes with the victim standing up to the abuser and wounding him.

From the Paper:

"The room was silent and I could feel my insides pushing on my outsides. I couldn't cry, I couldn't yell and I couldn't stop staring at the light in the window of his room. I couldn't do anything about my upset stomach or deal with all the thoughts in my head. My face hit the pillow, and my hands slid down the cotton fabric covering the mattress. My fingers searched the underside of my bed. "What am I doing? This doesn't even make sense." Then my fingers met the shock of the cold metal and I felt the grooves on its surface. It scared me every time I reached under, but eventually my fear would shut off. I felt power when I pulled the knife out from under the mattress."

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