Breathe.

I’m coming to the end of my teenage years

And I realized that it wasn’t worth the tears

The stress, anxiety, and feelings that swarmed my mind. 

I grew from your insolence and found what was worth my time. 

The nights I spent with mascara running down my cheeks

Staining the white pillow cases with memories 

Crying into the darkness that is my room. 

I found now you only wanted me just for laughs 

Wanted me for the love you could never have

Yet you managed to push that away. 

You try and find that in others, and they still won’t give you what I gave. 

What hurts the most is that you look at me with empty eyes

When I was the one who looked at you with stars in mine.

I watched my world go up in smoke, and all you did was feed the flame. 

I sit here now reminiscing on the “love” we had

And laugh to even call it that 

Because what we had was one sided.

I sit here and look back on the tears, the laughs, the kisses and savor them

Bittersweet. 

I am a stronger person, a more careful and headstrong person. 

But most importantly, after you stripped away bits of myself

I have healed. 

I found out what real love means to me.