I fought so hard

Not to be with

A man like my father

Selfish and demanding

With cruel misunderstandings

Lots of silence and too many lies

 

I fought so hard 

Not to be like

A woman like my mother

Afraid of her abuser

Becoming his enabler

Staying quiet to keep the peace

Losing her identity

 

I fought so hard 

To become

The woman I am today

Self-aware and unafraid

To stand up for myself

To leave when I've had enough