Truth be told

It took me 18 years
to learn how to swallow my pride
and apologize
to those I have done wrongly by
whose feelings I hurt
and whose opinions I overlooked

It also took me 18 years
to learn that taking all the pain
wasnt mandatory
that instead of being broken down
and fixing myself up again
I had the option
to walk away

It may have taken me
nearly 2 decades
of wasted years
but at least now
I can finally
live.