Silent Chains

Verse 1 Morning light spills through my empty room I trace the walls that finally feel like mine For years I carried you inside my chest A weight I called love, a chain I wore with pride I learned to hide my tears before they fell To fold my voice until it was almost gone I whispered “sorry” for the smallest things Believing love was something I owed, not chose I watched your eyes for signs of anger or pain And I shifted myself like sand in a tide Every word measured, every breath weighed Every inch of me borrowed, never mine ⸻ Verse 2 I traced your expectations like a map Walking paths that never led to me I learned to vanish in plain sight To shrink, to soften, to bend endlessly I remember hiding my sketches, my songs Fearing you’d frown if I dared to shine I bottled my laughter, my dreams, my rage And gave you my silence as an offering ⸻ Verse 3 I carried your moods in my small hands Like fragile glass that could shatter at a glance I thought that obedience was love itself That my heart existed only to ease yours I felt every sigh, every disappointed glance As if my life was debt to be repaid And even when I slept, I dreamed of you A constant, quiet surveillance inside my mind ⸻ Chorus I’m leaving, mother, though my chest is breaking Though my hands tremble and my throat is tight I love you, but I love myself enough to breathe For the first time, I am more than “yours” I am mine I am mine, I am mine Even with tears that burn and guilt that presses like stone I am mine ⸻ Verse 4 I fear I’ve broken you, scared your heart With every choice I made for myself I feel the weight of family watching As if my freedom stains the love I gave I cry for the girl who learned obedience first For the daughter who thought sacrifice was love And still, I take each trembling step away Even when the guilt screams louder than my breath ⸻ Bridge 1 It hurts to leave, it hurts to survive It hurts to want more than what was handed I hold sorrow like it is a second skin And fear I am too selfish to ever forgive myself I remember nights I stayed awake, trembling Counting every misstep, every sigh Learning that to exist was dangerous That to be myself was to risk it all ⸻ Verse 5 I carried memories in my pockets Small scraps of laughter, moments of peace I held onto them like fragile birds Because they reminded me I could exist beyond you I whisper to the girl I used to be: “You did your best, it was enough” But even her voice is soft and broken And she needs me to speak louder, stronger ⸻ Chorus (Extended) I’m leaving, mother, though my chest is breaking Though my hands tremble and my throat is tight I love you, but I love myself enough to breathe For the first time, I am more than “yours” I am mine Even if guilt burns like fire Even if longing pulls me back Even if I fear I’ve hurt the ones I love I am mine ⸻ Bridge 2 The fear still lingers like a shadow in my chest The quiet voice: “Are you cruel? Are you selfish?” I answer with trembling breaths and a quiet heart “Yes. I am selfish. I am alive. I am mine.” I place my hands on the walls of this small room And feel the first pulse of my own life It is shaky, it is scared, it is raw But it is real, and it is mine ⸻ Outro (Extended) I will carry your shadow in quiet corners The longing, the lessons, the ache But it will not live in my chest I will not vanish to keep you whole I breathe, I stumble, I cry I whisper to the girl I was: “You are enough. You are safe. You are free.” And even when the guilt presses like stone Even when tears burn like fire Even when my heart aches for love I left behind I am allowed to exist fully I am allowed to be fragile, to grieve, to cry And still, I am allowed to say: I am enough I am free I am mine