I didn't lose myself in the second grade, when I fell and scraped both my knees on the sidewalk. I didn't lose myself when my parents forced me to wear a pink dress on my birthday.
I didn't even lose myself when my mother decided I wasn't good enough for her, or when my friends had decided that I wasn't as cool as they once thought I was.
I didn't forget who I was when I hid behind makeup and cut all my hair, or when my classmates all told me I was ugly and weird.
I didn't pretend I was someone else when I knew I didn't fit in. I wouldn't dare to change myself when people decided they wouldn't be my friend.
I didn't lose myself when I found out things are harder than I thought, and I'm not as good as they said I was.