Yes. No. Yes

You were my hero. You picked me up when I was down, You gave me everything I thought I’d never have: A boyfriend, Friends no matter what Hallway I walked through, Confidence even in the days I could only think of my stomach And how it was pouring over my jeans. You were my hero And I think I let you know Too often. You gave me power to push through But I gave you power to climb up, Pedestal After pedestal Until you were so high up That when my anxiety was high And I turned to you to calm me down, You turned me away to Laugh with your friends. I got you so high up That the joke you and your friends Always made “No means yes” Became your reality And no matter how many times I cried out no It was just confirmation for you To keep on going. You are my villian, My kryptonite, My topic of conversation That every person I know Loves To bring up even though It has been nearly Two Years Since we’ve spoken. Two Years Since we’ve spoken And I still hear stories Of how every girl you choose, “No means yes” And all you can do is hop around Trauma to trauma Creating kryptonite for each of these Girls. A kryptonite none other than You. You were my hero. My everyday kisses And late night texts. Funny how things change Because now, You are my villian, My kryptonite, My weekly calls to the police Trying to fight you but always Losing. The story doesn’t end In a loss though, I won’t let it. That’s why I want to thank You For showing me Everything A hero isn’t And leading me To recognize the strongest Women in my life Who watched me fall apart And didn’t make me think Everything was okay, And didn’t pick me up And force my shattered pieces Back together so they could always Be staring at beauty. They taught me. They taught me once I was willing, What self-love is, What it means to respect yourself And that No. Does Not Mean Yes.