Chains of Survival

This is the truth raw and uncut A story of survival pain and redemption Listen close I was born into chaos a family both wild and kind 90s kid carrying the weight of time Mama worked hard—cooking cleaning barely there Daddy? Nowhere to be found like he vanished in the air But my dad? Yeah he showed love for a while Taught me lessons that stuck though the world was vile Grandpa was the king a man's man through and through Strong hands quick wit always knew what to do Grandma's love? Unbreakable solid as steel The glue that held us together her care was unreal But my sheltered youth couldn't keep out the screams The wild blood in my veins played out in my dreams Teenage years? Chaos—fists flew bottles broke Guns flashed like toys pain wrapped me in smoke I'm the product of pain born from the fight Every scar every wound brought me to the light Love and madness tangled in my veins I've fallen I've risen—still carrying the chains I've seen the darkness walked through its door Watched my friend die—needle on the floor His last breath haunts me his eyes went dim Both of us poisoned but it could've been me instead of him Addiction had me sinking drowning in the deep Devil's nectar in my veins nightmares in my sleep Then the sickness came shaking me to my core Fighting off the demons I had let in before And the memories—they hit like a goddamn train Flashes of my cousin and his sick fucking games Childhood stolen innocence erased I remember every detail every touch every face Didn't resurface 'til my 20s that night with the blade Drew it across my throat in a manic parade My wife screamed tears streaming down her face I was ready to leave escape this wretched place I'm the product of pain born from the fight Every scar every wound brought me to the light Love and madness tangled in my veins I've fallen I've risen—still carrying the chains Man I begged for help broken and alone Said "Catch me while I'm falling give me a home" They held me close arms warmer than the sun Carried me through memories I used to outrun The worst moments play louder than the best But I'm learning to let go let my spirit find rest Ready to forgive even those who broke me Ready to live let the love finally show me I've been cast as the black sheep the outcast the ghost Family smiles fade fast when I need them most Whispers behind my back knives in my spine But confrontation's my armor keeps me aligned I've slept on the streets been hooked on the high Buried loved ones and still asked the sky why But through it all I've learned what love can be A mirror of resilience staring back at me I'm the scars on my skin the lessons I've earned The bridges I've burned and the corners I've turned I'm the proof that survival is a form of art Every wound is a canvas every beat of my heart I'm the product of pain born from the fight Every scar every wound brought me to the light Love and madness tangled in my veins I've fallen I've risen—still carrying the chains I am pain I am love I am everything I've endured and everything I've overcome Still here Still fighting Still living