i don't care how well you used to know me. if you're not in my life now, you don't know me at all. the things that once mattered to me don't matter in the same way anymore. the way i think, the way i love, the way i protect my peace, it's all different now. you don't know the struggles i've been through, the lessons i had to learn the hard way, the walls i had to build, or the person i've worked so hard to become. you don't get to claim me if you weren't here to witness it. you only know the old version of me, the people-pleaser, the version of me that gave too much, the one who existed when you were still here. but that's not who i am anymore. and that's okay, because the people who are meant to stay will know the me i am today, not the me i used to be.