I'm Not Who You Said I Was

You told me who I was...

And I believed you.

But you were wrong.

You said I was crazy when I questioned all your lies,

Turned my every word against me till I doubted my own eyes.

You called it being honest when you tore my world apart,

Then blamed me for the damage that you left inside my heart.

I learned to second-guess the things I knew were true,

Apologised for feelings I was never allowed to prove.

You made me feel so worthless I forgot I had a name,

And somehow every argument would end with me to blame.

You told me I was useless, said I'd never make it far,

Made me feel like I was lucky just to be where you are.

You laughed at my ambitions, made a joke of every dream,

Then told me I was selfish when I tried to disagree.

I stopped seeing my friends because you said they weren't right,

Started questioning my memory after every single fight.

You made me feel so small that I forgot how to stand,

And called it love while keeping every part of me in your hands.

You twisted every story.

You rewrote every fight.

You made me doubt the daylight.

When I knew I'd seen the light.

BUT NOW THE FOG IS LIFTING,

AND THE TRUTH IS BREAKING THROUGH!

I'M NOT WHO YOU SAID I WAS!

I'M NOT THE PERSON YOU CREATED!

I'M NOT THE BROKEN LITTLE SHADOW

THAT YOU CONTROLLED AND MANIPULATED!

YOU CAN KEEP YOUR TWISTED STORIES!

YOU CAN KEEP YOUR HOLLOW LIES!

I'M TAKING BACK THE PERSON

THAT YOU BURIED DEEP INSIDE!

I'M NOT WHO YOU SAID I WAS!

AND I'M NEVER GOING BACK!

I still hear your accusations when I'm trying to sleep,

Still carry little fragments of the promises you'd keep.

But every day I'm learning that my feelings have a place,

And I don't need your permission just to occupy some space.

I used to think that leaving meant admitting I was weak,

But strength was finding courage when I finally chose to speak.

You don't get to write the ending, you don't get to choose my fate,

And I don't owe you forgiveness just to walk away from hate.

Every conversation was a calculated confrontation,

Every disagreement turned into another accusation.

You could change the whole direction, twist the meaning of a sentence,

Then convince me I was guilty till I offered my repentance.

Had me walking on the eggshells, had me questioning my senses,

Had me building up a prison while you called the bars defences.

Had me cutting off the people who could see what you were doing,

While you smiled and played the victim as my confidence was ruined.

But I finally see the pattern, see the method, see the game,

See the way you used my kindness as a weapon wrapped in shame.

I was never what you called me, never worthless, never weak,

You were terrified of hearing what would happen if I'd speak!

I'M NOT THE MONSTER IN THE STORY THAT YOU WROTE INSIDE YOUR HEAD!

I'M THE PERSON WHO SURVIVED THE THINGS YOU DID AND THINGS YOU SAID!

You said nobody would love me, said I'd never find another,

Made me question every friendship, every sister, every brother.

You would praise me in the morning, tear me down before the night,

Then convince me I was selfish when I said it wasn't right.

Had me thinking I was broken, had me begging you to stay,

Had me losing little pieces of myself along the way.

Every boundary was a battle, every answer was a test,

Every time I tried to leave you knew exactly where to press.

Now I'm standing in the mirror seeing someone I remember,

Not the frightened little shadow that you wanted to surrender.

I am stronger than the stories, I am more than what you claim,

You can tell the world your version but I'm keeping back my name!

I DON'T NEED YOUR PERMISSION!

I DON'T NEED YOUR VALIDATION!

I'M NOT LIVING ONE MORE SECOND

AS A PRISONER OF YOUR CREATION!

YOU DON'T OWN MY MEMORIES!

YOU DON'T GET TO CHANGE MY PAST!

YOU DON'T GET TO CALL ME WORTHLESS!

YOU DON'T GET THE FINAL LAUGH!

WE WERE NEVER WHAT YOU TOLD US!

WE WERE NEVER YOURS TO BREAK!

AND THE PEOPLE WE'RE BECOMING

AREN'T FOR YOU TO RECREATE!

I was always worth loving.

I was always enough.

I didn't deserve the cruelty.

I didn't deserve your control.

And now we finally know...

WE'RE NOT WHO YOU SAID WE WERE!

WE'RE NOT THE LIES YOU MADE US CARRY!

WE'RE NOT THE VOICES IN YOUR HEAD!

WE'RE NOT THE GUILT YOU TRIED TO BURY!

WE CAN BUILD A LIFE BEYOND YOU!

WE CAN LEARN TO TRUST AGAIN!

YOU MAY ALWAYS BE A CHAPTER,

BUT YOU DON'T GET TO WRITE THE END!

I'M NOT WHO YOU SAID I WAS!

I KNOW EXACTLY WHO I AM!

You told me who I was...

But you never really knew me.

And now I know myself.