Left behind

Dad was gone, I stayed behind

Learning how to lose with time

Mom looked past me every day

Loved the others, pushed me away

I learned early: don’t complain

Smile through the hurt and the pain

I was there but never seen

Always quiet, always in-between

I did my best, I did my part

Still felt like I was too hard to love

I’m never the one they choose to stay

Never the one they love that way

I give my heart, I give too much

Still not enough, still not enough

I’m always last, I’m always left

Learning how to live with less

Tell me what I did wrong

Why am I never the one?

I fell in love, thought this was it

Thought maybe life would finally switch

You cheated, lied, then blamed it on me

Like breaking me came so easily

I begged for care, you gave me blame

Made me feel small, called it my name

I stayed ‘cause pain felt familiar

Guess neglect makes love look similar

I keep choosing what hurts me

‘Cause being ignored feels normal to me

I’m never the one they choose to stay

Never the one they love that way

I give my heart, I bleed it dry

They walk away, I ask them why

I’m always last, I’m always left

Everyone else gets something real

Tell me what I did wrong

Why am I never the one they feel?

I’m angry ‘cause I tried so hard

To be worthy, to be enough

They say “you’re strong”, like that’s a gift

I just learned how to shut up

I didn’t want to be tough

I just wanted to be loved

I’m never the one they choose to stay

Never the one they fight for, okay

But I’m done shrinking, done being small

I won’t beg to matter at all

I was ignored, I was denied

But I’m still here, I’m still alive

Maybe I was never their one

But I won’t be no one

You didn’t break me, you made me loud

I see myself now, and that’s enough