Ashes & Glory

They called me strong…

So I broke in silence.

They said “you’ll rise” —

but forgot I had to burn first.

I wore smiles like armor,

while drowning in gold-caged fear

They cheered for my wins

but vanished when I cried here

The ones I trusted — turned to knives

Left me bleeding while they thrived

They said I’d make it, so I tried

But I died… a thousand times inside.

I held the weight of their hopes like chains

Smiling through the quiet pain

Every step — a battlefield unseen

Every breath — a war within

From ashes I crawl, from silence I scream

I am not the girl you saw in your dream

I’ve been shattered, scattered, torn apart

But I built a crown from a broken heart

This isn’t glory that came free

It’s the cost of surviving me

Don’t call me perfect, don’t call me light

I’m forged in betrayal. I earned this fight.

I gave my all to empty hands

Heard promises turn into sand

They loved me loud when I was gold

But left me quiet when I got cold

I wasn’t born a queen, you see

I bled for every part of me

Every scar — a silent scream

I’m the ghost of every lost dream

I begged the night to end my ache

But stars whispered “you don’t break”

So I rose, with fire in my lungs

And made a throne where grief belongs

From ashes I crawl, from silence I scream

Not your savior, not your dream

I’m the echo of all I’ve lost

And I still rise — no matter the cost

So if I shine — know I burned

If I breathe — know I learned

Don’t tell me I’m lucky — don’t say “you’re fine”

I clawed my way through hell to make it mine

Glory was never given…

It was taken.

I bled.

I broke.

I became.