The Silence of Our "Friends" by Amma Prempeh

It is painful when an adversary attacks me.
But it is even more painful, when so-called friends look on as I suffer.

They keep silent because they are afraid.

Afraid that they might lose their job if they come to my defense.
So even though they know deep down in their hearts that I am innocent, they keep silent.

Afraid that they might lose favour, because my adversary is influential.
So even though they know that I am being mistreated, they turn their gaze away from my misfortune and look toward what they stand to gain.

They keep silent.

Afraid that they might also be attacked, because my adversary is powerful.
So although they support me in secret, they do not utter a word in my defense where it matters most. 

When the crowds descend upon me in the public place, I yearn to have other voices join me in my pleas, but they do not utter a word.

They are silent.
They look away.

They may not speak against me, but by refusing to speak up in my defense, they are worse than my adversary.

Please don't tell me you kept silent because you are afraid.
No, you kept silent because you are selfish.