If That Was Love

I thought I knew what love could be,

but love shouldn’t hurt like this — should it?

(breathe in… hold… release…)

You said forever with a shaking smile,

I believed it, yeah, for a while.

Every bruise had an “I’m sorry” line,

and I wore forgiveness like it was mine.

(so blind… too kind…)

You called it love — I called it pain,

but I kept walking through the rain.

Every promise felt like chains,

wrapped in words that sounded sane.

(whispered lies… lullabies…)

I gave you everything I had inside,

told myself the hurt was just a sign of pride.

But love’s not meant to break your skin,

it’s meant to let the light back in.

(but it didn’t… no, it didn’t…)

If that was love — then I don’t want it.

If that was love — I’ve already lost it.

You made me think the pain was proof,

but I see it now, I see the truth.

(oh… see it now…)

If that was love — why did I fade?

If that was love — why was I afraid?

You called it passion, I call it scars —

love shouldn’t leave you in the dark.

You said control was just your way,

of “keeping me safe,” you’d say.

But I lost myself in your parade,

a puppet dancing in your shade.

(strings… cut them loose…)

You’d say I’d never find better,

then broke me with every letter.

But better isn’t built on fear,

and I’m still standing — I’m still here.

(still here… still breathing…)

You told me pain was what love needs,

but I’ve learned love doesn’t make you bleed.

It heals, it holds, it never hides,

and I won’t fall for lesser tides.

(no more tides… no more lies…)

If that was love — then I don’t want it.

If that was love — I’ve already lost it.

You made me think the pain was proof,

but I see it now, I see the truth.

If that was love — why did I fade?

If that was love — why was I afraid?

You called it passion, I call it scars —

love shouldn’t leave you in the dark.

Love doesn’t shout.

Love doesn’t bruise.

Love doesn’t choose who’s less to lose.

Love doesn’t cage — it lets you run.

And if that was love — I want none.

(none… none…)

If that was love — I’m done with pain,

done with begging through the rain.

If that was love — it wasn’t real,

it stole, it broke, it didn’t heal.

I’ll find a kind that doesn’t burn,

a kind that gives, that helps me learn.

If that was love — then I survived,

and maybe now… I’m still alive.

(alive… alive…)

Love shouldn’t hurt to feel alive…

If that was love — I’ll redefine.