You were never gone

I grew up hearing stories ‘bout you,

Mama said you left like fathers do.

She told me you just walked away,

Didn’t fight, didn’t ask to stay.

So I built a life with missing parts,

Hid the questions deep in my heart.

But every birthday, every fall,

I felt a hole she couldn’t cover at all.

But now I know you were never gone,

You were reaching out all along.

She drew the lines and shut the door,

But you were just outside the war.

I was told you didn’t care at all,

But I see now that was never true.

You didn’t leave me behind…..

They just kept me from you.

I found your name on old, worn cards,

Tucked away like broken parts.

“Happy Birthday,” in shaky pen,

A love I never got to let in.

You missed my first dance, my high school win,

But not because you didn’t want to be in.

She told a tale that made you small,

But your love was louder through it all.

And now I know you were never gone,

You were waiting, trying to hold on.

She built the wall, but I feel the cracks,

And your love still finds a way through the past.

I used to cry for someone I thought forgot,

But now I cry for the time we lost.

You didn’t walk away, that was her truth….

But I’m old enough now to find my own proof.

You missed the years, but not the chance.

If there’s still time, I’ll take your hand.

No more blame, just open skies ……

Let’s meet again, no more goodbyes.

Cause now I know you were always there,

In every silent, unanswered prayer.

You didn’t leave, you were locked outside,

And I was raised on someone else’s lies.

But I found your voice in the quiet rain,

And I won’t let it slip away again.

You’re not a ghost, you’re my blood, my truth….

And I’ve always been a part of you.

Yeah, I’ve always been a part of you…

Even when they tried to make it untrue.

You were never gone

Just kept from view.