The unedited version

When I saw you

i fell in love

but you did not

so i began negotiating with myself

i changed my attitude
softened my edges
lowered my volume

i changed my hair
my clothes
the way i walked into rooms

i changed my manners
my routine
my favorite things

i edited my words
filtered my thoughts
reshaped my laughter

little by little
i convinced myself
it was growth

but it was hunger

i changed myself
for you

and when i finally stood in front of you
wearing this polished version
this carefully constructed compromise

you looked at me
like i was a stranger

you did not recognize me

and that is when it settled

i changed
but you

without even realizing

you had fallen for
who i used to be

the unedited one
the loud one
the honest one

the one i erased

and suddenly
it was too late

because i did not know
how to become her again