My Mistake

My Mistake

I mistook your silence

For loyalty

Your compliance

For love

I misjudged your fear

And called it friendship

Your happiness

For validation

I saw our games

As teamwork

And our fights

As strengthening our bonds

But I was blind, deaf and dumb

To your pain

Which I caused every moment

You were with me

I gave you what I thought best

Not what you needed

I deprived you of growth

So you were immature

I shielded you from the many small pains

Which would help you learn bit by bit

And assuaged every transgression

To maintain the status quo

I hid your most toxic traits

From the others and even from myself

Which is why it seemed a surprise

When you broke your bonds

And acted like your worst self

The you I never truly saw

Because I never wanted to look