Is She Vulnerable — Or Just Waking Up?

They keep calling her vulnerable.

But no one explains what she’s supposedly vulnerable to.

Not to us — her parents. Not to school. Not to danger.

So what is it, exactly?

She isn’t hiding. She isn’t breaking down. She isn’t unsafe.
She’s waking up.

She’s said it herself: “I like foster care. They throw money at me.”
And as a teenager, that’s tempting. That’s comfort. That’s something tangible in a world full of instability.

But now she’s realising — that’s not everything.
It’s not love. It’s not safety. It’s not connection. It’s just… comfort.

She’s starting to ask questions. To notice gaps. To challenge narratives she used to believe without hesitation.

That’s not vulnerability. That’s awakening.

And maybe that’s the real problem.

Because if she’s not vulnerable, then she’s credible.
If she’s credible, then her voice matters.
And if her voice matters, then someone has to listen — really listen.

But the system isn’t built for that.
So they label her. Dismiss her. Contain her.

Because it’s easier to say she’s at risk than to admit they might be the ones causing the harm.

~ The Girl Speaks †