Breaking Free: A Survivor's Anthem
Lydia Joy

They say just to forget,
Pretend, get over it.
Move on, start over again.

But the memory, the pain,
Made to feel ashamed,
Still linger, still fight, a battle in my brain.

I’m not gonna cover up these scars.
I’m breaking away from these prison bars.
I’m stronger than I’ve ever been.
Won’t lock myself in that prison again.

I’m breaking free. I can finally breathe.
I’m trying to forgive, to finally live.
I’ve still got this memory that never will fade.
I’m letting go. I’m walking away.
I’m breaking free.

Sometimes they are scars.
Other times open wounds.
At moments, I question how I made it through.

And when it all comes back and I have to relive,
Somewhere deep in my soul, I beg God to help me forget.
All the scary nights. All the tears I cried.
All those people who said I lied…
I’m letting go.

I’m breaking free. I can finally breathe.
I’m trying to forgive, to finally live.
I’ve still got this memory that never will fade.
I’m letting go. I’m walking away.
I’m breaking free.

Don’t cover up your scars.
Go ahead, break away from those prison bars.
You’re stronger than you’ve ever been.
You’ll never need to lock yourself in that prison again.
You’re breaking free.

This poem was previously shared on the blog, Unfundamentalist, 
December 6, 2017.

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