It was your toxic love that made me grow

It was your toxic love that showed me the warmth hidden in winter

And the chills from the summer

It was your toxic love that made my tears break free 

And your empty words 

Are ones I believed

And carried with me in the spaces in my heart

Until it broke

Shattered by your hands as you dropped it

Dropped me

Dropped the one thing you told me was good in your life

It was your toxic love 

That gave me a sense of validation in the world

That made me realize that life was truly worth it

It was your toxic love

That gave me the smallest sense

Of self respect

It was your toxic love

Which caused me to pretend it was okay

Once it was over

It was your toxic love

That made me feel the sun on my skin

And realize it came a long way

Just to help me shine.