India, Feb. 27 -- Trigger warning: This post contains depiction of normalised violence against women, and may be triggering for survivors.

#OneOfTheThingsThatOftenKeepMeUpAllNight

My belly is living proof

of the life I have grown, held, and birthed

a 'permanently pregnant' swell

stretch marks and a caesarian scar

that still itch

an experience I wouldn't trade in

for anything

except for what I was told by the father of my child.

From "This is not my child"

to "Stop all that drama - there's no camera here"

when I was hormonal and weepy

and wanted him to hold me, reassure me, understand me

and further on to

"you've blown up like a buffalo; like your mother"

when I was unable to shed all the weight

and "get back into shape"....