I’ve never been good at telling people’s ages

I don’t know what that is

But something I do know is that I was young once

You were young once too

I have a really hard time remembering things

I think it’s just how I am

My mom said she noticed it one day

That she remembers more than I do

You’re only a year older than me

I was 13 when I met you

16 when you left

I remember that

How did you do so much damage to me in just three years?

I was wrapped around your goddamn finger

You were just a kid

A victim of your circumstance

But what about me?

I was a kid too

But you never thought about me, did you?

Collateral damage in a war that never should’ve been fought

Left alone and bruised at 16 to deal with the fallout

But now, I’m older

You’d think I’d be over it after so many years

But I’m not

I still feel that scared teenager within me

Trembling

So I’ll hold her like you never did

And I’ll be there for her like you never were

And I’ll never let you touch her again