Not Giving Up

You twist words like wet towels Drip doubt till the floor slick Say I’m “too much,” “too soft,” then call that a “small fix” You flip the script mid-argument Turn truth into smoke rings Tell me what I saw was fiction like my memory’s broke strings You got me chasing your shadow Round corners that don’t exist Every time I catch one breath you move the goalpost an inch You say “relax, you’re dramatic” when my hands start to shake Call your chaos “just a joke” then blame me when I break You can gaslight me, break me, twist me out of luck I might give up the chase but I’m not giving up fucks All that soft in my chest all that faith, all that trust I might walk from you but I’m not giving a fuck You love when I’m off-balance Eyes fogged, second-guessing Every “sorry” on repeat like it’s some holy blessing You feed me crumbs then snatch the loaf Say I should be more grateful Turn every honest question into “why you so hateful?” But I been stacking small refusals Quiet “no’s” inside my head Yeah, I’m tired of this chase running laps in your dread You don’t own my gentle You don’t rent out my love You can keep that crooked story I’ll keep what I’m made of I’m done chasing moving targets Done pleading with a storm Done begging broken mirrors to show me my true form I’ll lose you, lose this madness let the toxic all rust Walk away from the race but I’m not giving a fuck