The woman I became

I was a girl with a heart full of fear, Learning to smile while I swallowed my tears. Carrying stories I never could say, Trying to survive one more day. I thought all the damage would follow me home, Thought I was broken, thought I was alone. But somewhere beneath all the pain and the shame, A woman was waiting to rise from the flames. I bent, but I didn't break, I lost, but I learned to take Every piece of me they tried to erase, And put it back in its place. Look at the woman I became, She walked through fire, she survived the rain. She carries scars, but she carries no shame, She's not that scared little girl anymore. She found her voice, she found her name, She turned her tears into strength and changed. They may remember who I used to be, But the woman I became belongs to me. There were nights I couldn't see the light, Fighting old battles alone in the night. I blamed myself for the things I couldn't control, Until I learned I was worth saving too. Now I look in the mirror and finally see Someone who's learning to love what she sees. Not perfect, not fearless, but standing tall, And proud that she made it through it all. Look at the woman I became, She walked through fire, she survived the rain. She carries scars, but she carries no shame, She's not that scared little girl anymore. She found her voice, she found her name, She turned her tears into strength and changed. They may remember who I used to be, But the woman I became belongs to me. I won't apologize for the years I cried, Or for all the times I had to hide. Every scar is proof I made it through, And every breath says, “I chose me too.” I don't need to forget to finally heal, I just needed to learn that my life is real. The past can speak, but it doesn't decide The woman I am standing here tonight. Look at the woman I became, She walked through fire, she survived the rain. She carries scars, but she carries no shame, She turned her pain into something beautiful. She found her voice, she found her name, And learned that she was never to blame. The girl I was will always live in me, But the woman I've become is finally free. I survived. I grew. I healed. I became The woman I was always meant to be.