*Content Warning*
Intimate Partner Abuse and Violence

Stay
Written by Kelly Ann Wilson

I know that you were taught
That a woman’s worth
Is to give love
Oh, but if he took for granted all the love
You so freely gave
You don’t have to stay

I know you have an innocent heart
That even this cruel world
Could never change
And you can find hope and wonder
In the very smallest place
But if he says one thing
And does another entirely
You don’t have to stay

I know that you have gotten used to saying
That everything’s okay
And you know just how to wear the mask
So they don’t question anything
But if he’s the reason you can’t face
Your friends and family
You don’t have to stay

I know that it was instilled in you
To feel shame
For ever wanting anything for yourself
And that the very worst thing
That you could be seen to be
Is selfish
Oh, but if he takes
More than he gives
You don’t have to stay

I know that you can tell
People let him down and failed him too
And if you can just believe in him
Maybe he’ll see himself
Like you do
But if he’s willing to risk losing you
To keep the ones who threw him away
You don’t have to stay

I know that you feel like
You just cannot give up
And it’s true, you wouldn’t even be here
If you weren’t so damn resilient
But if he won’t make up his mind
To choose you consistently
You don’t have to stay

I know that for so long, you have believed
To have a home and a family someday
Is your purpose
And the whole reason you were made
But if he isn’t who he needs to be
To keep the promises he made
You don’t have to stay

I know that you see
That he’s only human
And just like him
You have faults and flaws
But if he is ever willing
Even once
To put you in harm’s way
You don’t have to stay

I know that you are made of all things tough
And you are capable to dig down deep
And find a way to be strong
But if he ever lays his hands on you
To cause you pain
You don’t have to stay

I know that you understand
That there are things he has survived
And how they changed forever
Who he wishes he could be
And who he was
Oh, but if he just doesn’t give a damn
To find a better way
You don’t have to stay

And you will still be kind
And loving
And caring
And compassionate
And thoughtful
And gracious
And forgiving
And empathetic
And good

I’ll bet you never knew
You can be those things
For yourself too

It doesn’t feel this way right now, I know
But you have a choice
A voice
A say

You don’t have to stay
You don’t have to stay
You don’t have to stay

Written April 3, 2023
© 2023 Kelly Ann Wilson