I was always the one who showed up first.
The one who stayed late.
The one who poured love like it was refillable—
like I had a back-up supply in the trunk.
But somewhere between your “I’ll change”
and my okay, one more chance,
I misplaced myself.
Left me on airplane mode.
Muted.
Unseen.
I forgot I had needs too.
I forgot I wasn’t just the soft landing,
the listening ear,
the nurse to every emotional splinter you refused to pull out yourself.
I gave you comfort,
and called it love.
You gave me crumbs,
and called it enough.
And don’t get me wrong—
I’m not here to play victim.
I picked this role.
Wore it like a vintage coat that never quite fit
but I convinced myself was “meant to be.”
I made myself small to fit your comfort zone.
Folded myself neatly into your silence.
Tucked away my dreams to keep the peace.
Isn’t that wild?
How peace can feel like suffocation
when you’re the only one compromising?
But here’s the plot twist:
I woke up.
And I remembered.
I remembered my voice.
I remembered the girl who used to laugh from the gut.
I remembered the version of me that didn’t apologize for taking up space.
And oh—she was waiting.
Patient.
Unbothered.
Ready.
I forgot I had needs too—
but baby, I remember now.
I remember that I deserve to be held, not tolerated.
I deserve love that doesn’t need a translator or a warning label.
I deserve joy that doesn’t come with emotional debt.
I deserve peace that doesn’t ask me to disappear to keep it.
So let me be clear:
I’m not begging for scraps anymore.
I’m not adjusting my volume to soothe someone who never learned to listen.
I’m not pouring into hands with holes in the palms.
If you can’t meet me where I’ve grown to,
you can watch my back as I walk forward.
This is self-love.
This is emotional boundaries.
This is healing.
This is the moment I take me back.
I forgot I had needs too.
But now?
Now I’m honoring them like they’re oxygen.
Because they are.
And to whoever needed to read this—
your comeback doesn’t need permission.
Your voice is not “too much.”
Your needs are not inconveniences.
Your heart is allowed to take up room.
Breathe.
Stand tall.
Remember yourself.
We’re not shrinking anymore.
Not today.
Not ever again.
