I didn’t wake up strong I became it step by step tear by tear In room.s where no one noticed I was breaking I learned strength in silence first in holding my own hand when no one else would in whispering you.ll make it even when I didn’t believe it yet my path was not soft was jagged uneven full of moments that tried to talk me down and leave me there but I stood maybe shaky maybe tired but still standing I gathered pieces of myself others overlooked and built something new not perfect but powerful strength became my voice my shield

from the voices that told me I wasn’t enough from the doubt that lived to long in my chest I let it go piece by piece breath by breath and it wasn’t easy freedom never is it came with tears with long nights with moments I almost went back but I didn’t I kept walking I kept rising I kept becoming now I stand here not perfect not untouched but no longer held back I am not who I was I am stronger I am louder I am mine I am free

now I walk differently not because life got easier but because I did not give up this is my path not the easiest not the prettiest but mine and i carry it with courage in my chest and light in my soul I am free I am free not because nothing hurt me but because I refused to stay where I did I am free from the weight of being unseen from the silence that tried to make me small I am free from waiting for love to look a certain way from hoping someone else would finally choose me I choose me now

The foot steps fade along the road their voices drift away and I am standing in the silence where they chase not to stay The echoes of their daughter still wander through my mind like shadows in the evening of the ones who left behind

there.s a little star inside of me glowing softly for all to see it whispers hope when days are gray and guide.s me gently on my way