No Permission

I stopped asking That changed everything I made myself smaller so you could stand tall Lowered my voice just to soften your fall Waited for approval that never arrived Like somebody else held the keys to my life They wanted me pleasant, polished, and still Pretty enough, but afraid of my will I played by the rules till the rules became chains Now I write my name over every mistake No signal No sign No one decides When I step into mine I need no permission No validation I choose who I am Without explanation I need no permission No vote, no condition I’m raising my voice Above your opinion You called it protection whenever you lied You called me too much when I opened my eyes But strength doesn’t need to be cruel to be clear I learned how to leave without living in fear No more waiting at the edge of the room No more making myself easy to consume I’m not your project Not your second position My life, my voice, my final decision I don’t need saving I already survived Don’t need directions I know how to drive You had your moment You made your decision Now watch me move forward Without your permission I need no permission No justification I choose my own future My own destination My life My decision