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