I AM NOT YOU

I am not you, don’t you see?

You built this reputation for substances

that became far more important than me.

We were homeless because our only income

went all to your addiction. You couldn’t see that

your only daughter had to steal clothes,

you did not see how your actions made our

life unfold. But one day you broke,

you stroked your own ego, chugging down your

usual drink, said the words that made me sink: “ You think

you’re depressed? Well fuck, then you’re better off dead.

Off yourself already and get rid of your dread.”

Just like that, I almost lost my life, my suicide attempt

failed and I never thought I’d be here, telling my story.

Your slavery to this fixation almost killed us both,

and I stand here today to scream society’s stereotype

roles are a joke. I am not You. Your horrible choice

will not be my voice. If you are a survivor of parents

with addiction, you need to rejoice. We beat through

their addiction and grew comfortable knowing

we cannot fix the environment that made us sick.

We can break the reputation for children of addicts.

Society will not predict our future, while we shout

“I AM NOT YOU.”