Permission You Invented

You really said that out loud?

You didn't trip
You didn't fall
You chose the door
Then blamed the wall

You dressed your hunger up as pain
Called it absence
Called it blame

Said I didn't give you more
While I was standing at the core

Funny how your guilt needs me
To survive
Funny how your truth only works
If I'm small enough to buy it

You wanted permission
So you invented my fault
Turned your decision
Into something I caused

You crossed the line
Then cleaned your hands
And looked at me
Like I would understand

You didn't slip
You didn't fall
You chose yourself
And blamed it all

Then you smiled and aimed it clean
You'd do the same if you were seen

You said it like a mercy shot
Like dignity was something I forgot

You don't regret the act you made
You regret I didn't play your game

You needed me beneath you
To feel tall
You needed my silence
To survive it all

You wanted permission
So you invented my fault
Turned your reflection
Into something I caused

You crossed the line
Then rewrote time
And called it truth
Like I'd be blind

You didn't slip
You didn't fall
You chose yourself
And blamed it all

I didn't lose my value
You lost your nerve

I didn't fail to keep you
You failed to own your words

You wanted permission
To sleep at night
So you dressed your hunger
As my lack of fight

Say it again
Say it out loud
Say I'm the reason
You burned it down

You didn't slip
You didn't fall
You chose yourself

And that's
All

Don't confuse my silence
With forgiveness