My Version You’ll Never Know - Shadowrise Unit Challenge

I grew up quiet in a room full of storms
Learned to smile before I could mourn
Hid my hunger under folded hands
Told myself they’d understand

I was the secret no one kept
The bruise behind the breath they swept
I held my tears like they held knives
And called it “love” to stay alive

You knew the smile
Not the storm
You knew the mask
Not what it’s for

You knew the light
But not the weight
You saw the calm
Not the escape

You saw the version
I had to show
But not the me
I’ll never let you know

You thought I was soft 
That I bloomed in sun
But I learned to bloom
Where light was none

I made peace with being last
Taught myself to never ask
Told my dreams to shrink and wait
Carved my voice into my fate

They said “be good” 
So I became small
But silence echoes
Louder than them all

You knew the smile
Not the storm
You knew the shell
Not what was torn

You knew the ease
Not the fight
You saw the glow
Not what cost that light

You saw the version
I let you see
But not the me
That had to bleed to be

There’s a girl I buried
To make you proud
A scream I swallowed
To keep things loud

I danced on glass
To keep things smooth
But every step
Cut through my truth

You knew the smile
Not the storm
You knew the grace
Not what was worn

You knew the laugh
Not the cost
You saw the girl
But not what she lost

You saw the version
That didn’t cry
But not the me
That broke to survive

I told you everything…
but not out loud.
I showed you everything…
but only the part that didn’t scare you.

The rest?
The real me?

You’ll never know.
But I do.
And maybe…
that’s finally enough.

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