Forever Shouldn't Hurt

I thought forever meant staying

Even when I was breaking

I thought love was proven

By how much I could take

But now I know

They said real love stays through the storm

So I let it drown me to keep us warm

I lowered my voice

I dimmed my shine

I called it compromise

But it was a crime

I made excuses for every wound

Called the pain passion

Called the silence room

I wore red flags like a rose bouquet

Hoping it would feel like love someday

But forever shouldn't hurt

It shouldn't drain my soul

It shouldn't cost my light

Just to make you feel whole

If I have to lose myself

To prove what I'm worth

Then baby

Forever isn't love

And forever shouldn't hurt

You don't get extra points for bleeding

You don't get a trophy for never leaving

Love isn't measured by how much you shrink

It's measured by how deep you help someone think

I confused pain with depth

Chaos with care

Ride or die with

Always be there

But love that needs me to disappear

Isn't love

It's fear

I thought staying made me strong

But walking away is where I belong

My heart's not a hostage

My love's not a debt

I release the spell

I reset

Forever shouldn't hurt

It shouldn't steal my peace

It shouldn't feel like war

Just to feel relief

If loving you costs my worth

Then it's not sacred

And it's not forever

It's just pain in a mask

And now I choose better

This isn't the end of love

It's the return of me

Forever starts

When I love me clean