I Needed Quiet

Don't take it personal if I went missing
I was drowning in my thoughts, barely treading
You called it distance, I called it breathing
You said, "Why you cold?" I said, "I'm healing"
I gave too much when I was running low
Smiled through silence just to keep control
Now I'm guarding peace like it's holy ground
If you can't hold space, don't stick around
I needed quiet, not your noise
I needed time, not your voice
This ain't about love, it's about choice
To hear myself again
I needed stillness, not your storm
I needed less, not one more
If you couldn't feel that to your core...
Then you never really knew me
Don't romanticize the way I faded
You want a version of me I upgraded
You loved me small, now I'm too spacious
You only show up when I'm gracious
I used to fold just to make it right
Now I unfold, girl, I reclaim my light
No more guilt for the ways I bloom
Your discomfort ain't my room
I needed quiet, not your noise
I needed time, not your voice
This ain't about love, it's about choice
To hear myself again
I needed stillness, not your storm
I needed less, not one more
If you couldn't feel that to your core...
Then you never really knew me
Quiet doesn't mean I'm weak
It means I finally heard me speak...
…and she said: leave.