Moving On

I stood at the door and watched you leave,

After you promised to come visit every day.

To look back now and see I was so naïve,

For believing you’d stick to what you would say.

Visits were weekly at first, then monthly, then ceased,

Yet I’d sit on the doorstep and wait with hope.

It constantly felt as if your love had been leased,

Yet I mourned what was once; how else could I cope?

I wanted to resent you, but I couldn’t stop caring,

You’d never been there for me, yet I couldn’t let go.

The amount of hours I spent just sitting, staring,

Wishing you, as a father, could change, learn, grow.

It was hard to accept this is just what you are,

That I couldn’t make excuses for the rest of my life.

Defending your nastiness would never get me far,

Because every mention of you was like twisting the knife.

But now that I’m older, I’ve found I don’t really care,

Because what were you ever good for?

I don’t want you in my life, don’t come back, don’t you dare-

I’m strong, and I don’t need you anymore.