your betrayal hit me like a bullet in the back
you were supposed to be my everything
you were supposed to be my guardian
your shoulders were supposed to be my safe spot
you're nothing
I looked after myself
I look after myself
I can say I'm okay
I can say I made it on my own
I can say I never needed you
but how can you look at me
how can you notice that I'm a growing human being that you created
how can you notice that without apologizing or compromising
how can you know what you did and continue to parade me around
parade me around in stories you tell and photos you show with pride
you cannot say
"she is my daughter"
because you gave me up the moment you became silent