Do you remember that girl-
The one you bullied in middle school?
You called her a lesbian
and shoved her into lockers.
You called her fat
And made her eat dirt.
You tortured and teased and ostracized her ruthlessly
Just because you were jealous
Just because she was different.

What you didn’t know
Was that you tore her down.
What you didn’t know
Was that she’d already had
More than her fair share of pain.
What you didn’t know
Was that she cried and bled
When she was alone
Just because you couldn’t accept her
Just because you made her hurt.

Do you know what else you didn’t know?
What you didn’t know is that that girl is my daughter.
What you didn’t know is how much it hurt me that she hurt.
What you didn’t know is that I’ve always loved her
Just because she is beautiful in a way you can’t see
Just because she is my daughter.