THE HELL I VISIT…ALMOST EVERY NIGHT,
AS I LAY DOWN & CLOSE MY EYES.
MAKES THE WEARY LOOK I SPORT ON A DAILY BASIS,
COME AS NO SURPRISE.

THE COLD SHELL SHOCKED STARE,
THAT USUALLY MASKS MY FACE.
EVERY WRINKLE…EVERY SCAR,
SHOW MY WEAR…BUT ALSO SIGNIFY’S MY MISTAKES.

I’VE BECOME A BATTLEFIELD,
MY BODY TELLS THE STORY OF WAR.
I’VE FOUGHT SO LONG…LOST AS MANY BATTLES AS I’VE WON,
I’M NOT SURE WHY I FIGHT ANYMORE.

THEN I LOOK AT MY FAMILY’S BELEAGUERED FACES,
I NEED TO BE FREE…BUT I CAN’T ESCAPE.
WHO I WAS…WHAT I DID…NO MATTER HOW SORRY I AM,
THE THINGS I’VE DONE…CAN NEVER BE ERASED.

SO I RUN FROM MY PAST,
HOPING THE FUTURE HOLDS PROMISE FOR ME.
HOPING…AFTER ALL THIS TIME,
I CAN BE THE MAN…MY MOTHER RAISED ME TO BE.

THIS IS MY PHYSICAL & EMOTIONAL JOURNEY,
I BARE THIS BURDEN ALONE.
ONLY MY PAD & PEN ARE PRIVY TO THE DETAILS,
OUTSIDE OF MY WORDS…IN THIS REGARD…I’M ON MY OWN.

WHICH MAKES MY WORLD DRAB,
A LITTLE DARKER & COLDER EVERYDAY.
TO BE SOMEONE BETTER…TO BURY WHO I WAS,
THIS…IS THE PRICE I PAY.

THE ONLY REGRET I HAVE,
IS THAT THE WORLD CAN NEVER TRULY KNOW ME.
THEY WILL NEVER GET THE CHANCE,
TO KNOW…I’M SO MUCH MORE…THAN THE NAKED EYE CAN SEE.

THEY WILL NEVER KNOW,
ABOUT MY STRUGGLE…TO KEEP MY DEMONS AT BAY.
HOW WEARY I GET FROM FIGHTING,
OR…HOW I DESIRE TO FINALLY STOP RUNNING AWAY.