i never understood
what strength was

my best told me i was strong
and that i could get through it all

but i didn't understand
what true strength was
until it became routine
to spend my night
hugging the bathroom tub
waking up the next morning
alive and still smiling

i didn't understand
what true strength was
until i realized
my best friend did the same thing
for years on end
and yet she still found it
to wake up
and pick me up out of it

i never understood
what it meant to be strong
until i realized
i am strong