I don’t need you
—I have her.

She wiped my tears when I was younger—where were you? She tried her best with me—did you? She raised me as well as she could—did you even try? She made me feel up when I was down—did you even know? She remembers my birthday—
do you remember?

I’ve learned how to live without you, but I haven’t learned why it was all so easy for you. Perhaps I’m greedy for wanting you in my life. But you lied—and you never tried.

I’ve stopped chasing after you. I’m okay under her shadow. You always made me feel like a fool. And yet—
I rose without you.

And found beauty in the space you left behind.