Respect

self-respect ain’t free, don’t let anyone tell you different
it costs, it fucking costs everything
it’s in the nights you walk away from what’s easy
because it feels wrong, like a splinter in your soul
it’s in the silence you choose when the words in your mouth
taste like poison, like betrayal of everything you are
self-respect isn’t about the grand gestures or the dramatic exits
it’s the quiet choices, the ones no one sees
the ones that tear you apart inside, because you know
staying, compromising, would be so much easier
but you don’t, you can’t, because that’s not who you are
it costs your comfort, your place in the world
the relationships that felt like home but were really prisons
with chains disguised as love, holding you back
it costs the part of you that was okay with being less
just to keep the peace, to keep everyone else satisfied
and it’s not pretty, it’s not easy, it leaves you shivering
alone, far from everything you thought you wanted
it’s the loneliness that comes with saying, “this is me”
and no one, not even yourself, gets to fuck with that
but self-respect doesn’t come with a trophy, no one claps
for the person who stood their ground in the shadows
no one cheers for the one who left the table
instead of selling their soul for scraps
it’s not about them, it’s not about the world’s approval
it’s about the mirror, it’s about facing yourself
and not flinching, not looking away from the truth
that’s the price of self-respect, and you pay it every day
not just once, but every fucking moment you breathe
but if you don’t, if you trade yourself for a moment’s reprieve
for the lie that keeps everyone else wrapped in their delusions
that’s a debt you’ll carry, a weight that will crush you
slowly, invisibly, until there’s nothing left
so don’t pretend, don’t lie to yourself, pay the price
because self-respect is the only way to survive this life
with your soul intact, with your head held high
even if your hands are shaking, even if you’re all alone
because in the end, that’s all you’ve got, that’s all that’s real
your self-respect, your truth, your fucking backbone
don’t let anyone take that from you, don’t ever let it go.