All those years you spent, feeling like a spare part
Internalising how they viewed you
I wish you knew back then
You shouldn’t have had to hide
Burning up and you didn’t know why
I wish you knew, I wish I could tell
The version of me that struggled too long
The version of me that deserved to know
That you only needed to survive
You deserved to know it was alright
I know myself now, and I have self respect
That I couldn’t have dreamed of back then
I dropped the mask, I don’t hide anymore
I know who I am, and I’m accepting it
And it’s strange, getting better
It doesn’t just happen overnight
When the truth changes your whole life
It takes time, and I mourn
I lived, but the fact remains
The grief is deep and it’s mine to bear
For the version of me that struggled too long
The version of me that deserved to know
That you would live to love yourself
And you’d believe that you deserved it
You couldn’t see beyond 18
But I’m here at 24
No more hiding, no more masking
No more compromises
Let go of those who won’t get it
Hold on to those who will
They didn’t deserve you then
They don’t deserve you now
But you deserved to know
That it would be alright