Devonne Brown

Your eyes filled with tears-

Why didn’t you let me help?

Well, you never asked.



Can I come as well?

I’m bouncing from foot to foot.

Well, you never asked.



Why don’t you join me

Swinging arms, walking, skipping?

Well, you never asked.

Well, you never asked….is a statement about you or me. I could make it all about me, or all about you. If I make it about me, like “You never asked about my feelings, “ I feel guilty. I hate feeling guilty over a writing prompt. I hate feeling guilty at all. Most of the time I feel guilty and I shouldn’t. Guilt is an emotion I was born with.

I feel guilty about school. I feel as if I’ve not taught anyone anything, ever. I read stories to people and talked philosophy over children’s heads. Most of the time, it’s girl drama. “Well.l you never asked me to stop talking,” I hear after I’ve yelled at a gaggle of girls because they don’t hear me speak to them as if they were humans. 

“Well, you never asked.” is an impolite excuse. It disavows the existence of a request. It’s gaslighting. It implies mindreading. Which I cannot do very well. Can you?