Maybe This Time

Maybe this time I won't write a story Of dragons to slay and people to pay a visit to Maybe this time I won't empathize with the villains Hoping to understand why they're not okay Maybe this time I won't fixate on their insecurities Teaching them how to breathe I wanna breathe I wanna go outside Where the air just seems so nice And the expectations die Been searching for a way To release others' pain Without throwing it away Maybe this time I'll set myself free Maybe this time I won't make assumptions 'Bout words people say and get in the way of helping Maybe this time I won't insert myself in solutions Hovering while they heal their shame Maybe this time I won't rob myself of space Rob myself of trying to find my place I wanna go outside Where the air just seems so nice And the expectations die Been searching for a way To release others' pain Without throwing it away Maybe this time I'll set myself free I seem to be A magnet for others' misery It's not easy Being good at empathy How can I reclaim my energy? I'll set myself free