Survivor

You say you are a survivor.
You've lived through tales unknown.
Your horrors didn't defeat you,
they've broken all but your bones.
You say you lived through them all,
never did you fall.
But, even now, you are lying, you see?
To yourself and even to me.
Though your stories may ring true,
and not a detail left out,
you lie to yourself, of that I have no doubt. I mean you no disrespect,
and your tales are important, too.
But hear me out, my friend,
because I think I understand you.
I know, deep down, you live inside your head.
It happens while you work,
and happens in your bed.
I say this now to show to you,
your trials never ended for you.
You can't escape the horror that plays inside your mind.
It plays itself on repeat, and other horrors act in kind.
Your tragedies and trials, your demons with their smiles.
They taunt and stab, they scream, and they shout,
but, never will you ever try to let them out. Now, I know you aren't at fault.
I know you paid your dues,
But listen to my words, because,
in my heart, these words ring true.
You may have gotten over them,
I know it's partly right.
You surely did survive them, but secretly you fight.
You may be done with your demons,
but they have nowhere to go.
They will never sleep or rest until the departure of your soul.
You say you are a survivor,
but you misunderstood.
The reasons for your claim are but the lies you have withstood.
The past is never gone, it can never be erased.
It haunts you at its leisure, but, you, its always chased.
I learned this lesson deep in thought,
why the horrors never stopped.
They eat me like a cancer, and they just will not be topped.
But, I figured out the answer, it stung me like a bee.
I'll tell you what I know, my friend, and after this, you'll see.
But first I must adore how you say you have done more.
Living through what Hells brought on,
life, it seems to just add on.
The good times are fun and happy indeed. But they never broke you or trashed your self-esteem.
You will see, now, just why I say you lie. The past is in the present, it can never die. It will never leave your mind, your soul, or even leave your heart.
The past is in the present because, my friend, of you, it is a part.
Now you understand me.
It wasn't really hard.
My words are a gift to you that you should not discard.
You will never escape the monsters, the demons, or the horrors.
But you, my friend, I mean it... now, you are a warrior.
To survive the trauma you were given, you made a silly plea.
You asked your heart to forget, but it simply cannot be.
You say you were victorious, you paint that word as true. It would be so glorious, but it simply is not true.
The damage you carry will always be there.
Watching and waiting to make you despair.
In closing, my friend, I want you to know, that there is a truth I wish to bestow.
You have a life... so never let it go.
The damage became part of who you are, and you'll never forget the pain in those scars.
So, for those who suffer from depression and pain,
you are all warriors, one and the same. Now, I leave you with this final statement....
listen good, cause there's no replacement. We fight every day, battles unseen.
Things from our past, filthy, unclean.
We are the true warriors,
we will never give in.
Not to our burdens, our demons, our horrors, our sins.
We'll never give up, our blood we will spend.
We are the true survivor, for us, the battle will never end.