She Survived, She Survived

She survived the beginning
Made her way to the end
She survived being different
Grieved her way through lost friends
She survived all the cruelness
And the passive aggression

She survived living loose lips
And the things she won’t mention

And then while in her peace
Disturbed as it was
She survived the release
Of performing: “enough”

And though she’s still different
She endures as she does
She survived, she survived

For she’s fueled by a love;

That cannot be broken
That cannot be paused
That cannot be taken
That cannot be taught

She survived, she survived
Not a stone went unturned
Not a tear went unshed
Not a flame went unburnt
Not a fear went unheard
Not a joy went untouched
Not a pain went unseen
Not a scar went unloved

She survived on this love
Just to come to this day
When she no longer needs
To survive in this way

Because now she is here
Nothing left to prove
No longer drawn to indifference
No longer numb to abuse

She survived, she survived
Now she longs to find peace
Spends her days sipping pause
Breathes into the release
She survived, she survived,

Life is hers to construct
As she comes to realize;

“I survived… so now what?”