Heart Of Gold (Don't Cross Me)

Title idea:** *“Heart of Gold (Don’t Cross Me)”* **Verse 1** From small towns, still in Fresno County air, Smile so pretty, but I’ve lived in the scare. PTSD got me wide-eyed at night, Anxiety in my chest like it don’t know how to quiet. Lost my parents young, learned grief too fast, Then I was sixteen with a baby in my past. I did what I could—still the world turned cold, Now they act like my pain is a crime to be sold. **Pre-Chorus** I asked for help, they tarnished my name, Like survival’s a sin, like love got a stain. If you don’t play puppet, they paint you a threat— Tell me who’s the monster in the room with the steps? **Chorus** I’m heart of gold, but don’t cross me, don’t— You’ll see how fast a “victim” becomes a storm. This crooked system, it lies with a badge and a pen, Overuse the power, then act like it’s “help” again. Homeless some days, still standing though— I keep my kids in my heart, even when they go. **Verse 2** Six kids, six different ages, six different prayers, I’m grieving loud, but I’m still aware. Twenty-two, sixteen, fifteen, eleven, ten, three— Try to steal a mother’s light and you’ll see what I mean. I smoke to cope, yeah, I drink to breathe, Addict and honest—the truth is in me. They call it “noncompliance,” I call it “trying to live,” When your whole world flips, what else can you give? **Bridge (more emotional / reflective)** If you see me in the street, don’t assume what you know, Everybody’s hurting with a story under the clothes. I’m not your headline, I’m a human being— Just looking for safety that don’t come with a beating