Left home young 16

Left at sixteen with a bag and a bruise,

Tired of the yelling and nothing left to lose.

Slammed that door like I meant goodbye,

Heart full of pride, head full of sky.

Swore I’d never look back, I was ready to roam,

But truth is, I wasn’t ready to be gone.

I thought I had the world by the throat,

Thought I’d float on fire and hope.

Didn’t know much, just knew I was right,

Til the cold set in that first real night.

Thought I left behind what was holdin' me down,

But it turns out I left the safest place I’d found.

Found out fast what pride can’t buy,

Cold floors, late shifts, and empty replies.

Learned to hide fear in a stranger’s town,

When the world tries hard to break you down.

And every bite of humble pie I ate

Tasted like the fists I used to shake.

Took a few years for the fire to dim,

For the man in the mirror to start sinkin’ in.

I dropped the rage, laid down the blame,

Tried to build something from my own name.

Started over, quiet, slow, and scarred,

But scars make maps if you carry ‘em hard.

I thought I had the world by the throat,

Turns out it had me in a chokehold note.

But I came back stronger, not the same,

Wiser now, with less to blame.

I ain’t rich, but I ain’t ashamed —

I’m just proud of the man that pain became.

Left at sixteen…

And I’ve been learnin’ how to come home ever since.