you knew me
before i had the words for myself,
before i learned how to hide

you knew me
in the quiet hours, in the in-between,
in the spaces i thought no one saw

you knew me
the real me, not the one i pretend to be,
not the one they think they love

you knew me
and now,
you don’t

you knew me.
and now i am a stranger,
even to myself

you knew me.
and i don’t know if anyone ever will again