Better Than Them

Seventeen years to learn what unhealthy means 

Seventeen years to learn how not to be 

From those that give us our example of love

Mine was an example of how not to love 

I remember the secrets 

I remember the lies 

I remember my mother saying she'd never let him see her cry

But I will be transparent

I will be true

My darling, I will love you better because I know how not to