[Verse 1 — Soft, nostalgic, almost conversational] I used to laugh with my whole damn heart Leave every window open after dark Never thought a home could turn into a cage Or love could teach a woman to be afraid. I had a name, I had a voice I had a thousand dreams a thousand choices. I never saw the darkness in the door Never knew that less could become so much more. [Verse 2 — Low, haunting, tension building] First came the questions, then came the rules Then came the silence I learned to use. A little less laughter, a little less light A little more walking on glass every night. And I kept telling myself, Maybe tomorrow he'll change... While the woman I knew Disappeared day by day. [Pre-Chorus — Whisper turning into a desperate cry] How did I get here? How did I stay? Why did I think I deserved all that pain? Was I too weak? Was I too blind? Or had I been losing myself one piece at a time? [Chorus — EXPLOSIVE, full drums, distorted guitars, fierce vocals] YOU DIDN'T MAKE ME STRONG! I WAS STRONG BEFORE YOU CAME! YOU JUST TAUGHT ME HOW TO BLEED AND STILL GET UP AGAIN! YOU DIDN'T BUILD THIS WOMAN! YOU DON'T GET TO CLAIM MY SCARS! I FOUGHT MY WAY THROUGH HELL TO FIND THE FIRE IN MY HEART! I AM NOT YOUR BROKEN STORY! I AM NOT THE GIRL YOU HURT! I AM NOT JUST WHAT SURVIVED YOU— I AM MORE THAN I WAS WORTH IN THE EYES OF SOMEONE WHO NEVER KNEW MY WORTH! Verse 3 — Heavy, rhythmic, angry but controlled] I slept with a knife by the bedroom door sometimes hiding on the floor. another under the couch, where I'd lie awake Counting every sound that the darkness would make. I started believing the lies you would tell That I was the reason my life was a hell. That if I stayed quiet, if I just stayed good Maybe you'd love me the way that you should. I watched my own children and swallowed my fear Pretended the danger was something they couldn't hear. And somewhere inside me, the woman I knew Was screaming for somebody to tell her the truth. [Bridge — Music drops to a single piano, voice fragile and trembling] i wasn't weak I wasn't wrong. I was trying to keep my children safe While barely holding on. [Verse 4 — Haunting, slow crescendo] And leaving didn't end it, God, I wish that it had. I carried every nightmare, Every memory every hand. Years after the danger I'd still wake up in that room. One sound one word one movement And the past came crashing through. My body still remembered What my mind was trying to forget. I'd be standing in the sunlight With the darkness on my neck. I'd tell myself, It's over. But my heartbeat disagreed. And I'd hate myself for shaking When I knew that I was free. YOU DON'T GET MY REDEMPTION! YOU DON'T GET MY VICTORY! THE BEST THING THAT I EVER FOUND WAS THE WOMAN INSIDE ME! I AM NOT JUST A SURVIVOR! I AM NOT JUST STILL ALIVE! I AM THE BRAVEST SOUL I KNOW, AND I HAVE EARNED THAT RIGHT! I DIDN'T HAVE TO BREAK TO BECOME WHO I AM! I WAS ALWAYS WORTH THE LOVE YOU COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND! [Outro — Instruments fade, warm piano and gentle strings; spoken-sung with conviction] I don't thank you for the scars I don't thank you for the pain. I don't need to call it destiny To give my life meaning again. I am not who I was before And I don't need to be. Because somewhere beyond surviving I found someone extraordinary... And that someone... Was me. [Last line — Barely above a whisper] And now... I breathe for me.
