Mystery Child

Seventeen years in my skin

Pain in my bones, again and again

They scan my face like I’m a code

Call me a mystery child, I hold that load

My body aches when the room goes still

I learn to smile through the medicine spill

I keep my secrets under my shirt

Walk through the fire, let it burn, let it hurt

Still I rise up

When the night gets loud

I bite my tongue

But I won’t back down

Still I rise up

Through the shaking ground

I’m not done

I’m still here now

I keep fighting (keep fighting)

I keep standing (keep standing)

Mystery child

But I’m still lasting

I keep fighting (keep fighting)

I keep breathing (keep breathing)

Mystery child

And I’m still living

Mind in a storm I never named

Some days I drown in a private rain

I’ve held my tears in a locked-up jaw

Still I get up when I hit the floor

Every bad day tries to take my spark

I light one match in the middle of dark

If I am tired, I do not stop

I drag my hope to the top, to the top

Still I rise up

When the night gets loud

I bite my tongue

But I won’t back down

Still I rise up

Through the shaking ground

I’m not done

I’m still here now

I keep fighting (keep fighting)

I keep standing (keep standing)

Mystery child

But I’m still lasting

I keep fighting (keep fighting)

I keep breathing (keep breathing)

Mystery child

And I’m still living

Name every scar

I wore them all

Name every fall

I got back up

If my own body

Won’t play fair

I will still love

The life I wear

I keep fighting (keep fighting)

I keep standing (keep standing)

Mystery child

But I’m still lasting

I keep fighting (keep fighting)

I keep breathing (keep breathing)

Mystery child

And I’m still living

I keep fighting (keep fighting)

I keep standing (keep standing)

Mystery child

I’m still here, still winning