You are not your parents mistakes,
that grade on your paper,
or the pain you can't take.
You are not the promises you break,
the nights you stay up late
or the hour in which you wake.
You are not the feelings you hide,
your silent tears in the middle of the night,
or the "friends" who never stay.

You are stronger than your weakest thought,
braver than all of your doubts.
You are more beautiful than your flaws
and everything you think you're not.
You're so much more
than the girl in the mirror,
the number on the scale
and the scars on your wrist.
You're smarter than the average bear,
and you shine brighter than the stars.

What is love?
Holding me when I'm down,
I'm the only person you like to be around

but is that love?

Asking after me every day,
you want to take me away,
and you say
"I love you."
but I don't know if that's true.

and do I love you?

I want to know where this goes,
but I'm scared of those
who'll oppose and who'll say
"You're too young for love, anyway."

But you tell me "I love you"

and I'm terrified of the day
you'll say you're tired;
the day when you'll receive
a better offer
and leave.

but still, you say "I love you"

I'm guarding myself out of fear
but my walls are becoming clear
and I feel that when you see the sheer mess that is me
you'll flee.

Even though you say "I love you"
We don't quite see eye to eye;

our values and morals are awry.
But you make my eyes light up like fireflies
and the beats of my heart multiply when you're nearby
and I have no idea what love is, but this is the closest I've ever been.


and so I say " I love you too"