Early on I picked up the responsibilities of those who should have been there for me

it was second nature holding my own and never mourning the wilt of my youth,

the balancing act took its toll and though I never completely dropped them I did teeter slightly

and naivety and freedom were sacfriced as payment for a certain man's root.

If I could bring them to terms with my innocence and open their eyes

Id show them the depth of a bastard child's cries.

I would change their stony expectations so that they could measure the distance I have travelled accurately,

their hardened faces would smooth into pride for the child who gave up her own dreams dispassionately.