courtroom bound

Your Honour... Before you make your mind up, Can I tell you my side? In my defence, I'm more than the pages. More than the headlines, More than the stages. More than the moments That I wish I could erase. I'm still standing here, Trying to find my place. In my defence, I've fallen, I've stumbled, Watched my whole world Get twisted and jumbled. But every sunrise I've still had a choice— To keep getting up, To keep finding my voice. I know I've made mistakes, I won't pretend I didn't. I'm not here chasing pity, Or asking to be forgiven. I'm asking to be measured By the work I do today, Not just by the shadows That refuse to fade away. I've cried enough tears To fill this courtroom floor, Still I keep knocking On tomorrow's door. I've carried regret Like chains around my chest, But chains don't decide Who can become their best. In my defence, Look at the effort. Look at the progress. Look at the days When giving up Would've been the easiest option, But I chose another step. I don't claim perfection. Never have. I'm just trying to write A better second half. One page at a time, One promise I keep, One mountain I climb, One lesson I reap. If my children ask Who I became, I want them to say I changed the ending, Not the name. Your Honour, I'm not asking you To ignore the past. I'm asking you To see the future I'm trying to build. Because every family Deserves hope, Every child deserves love, And every person Should have the chance To prove They're more Than their hardest chapter. So before this story Gets filed away, Before the final words Are spoken today, Remember... The past explains me. It doesn't own me. And in my defence... I'm still here. Still fighting. Still learning. Still loving. Still believing That tomorrow Can sound different From yesterday. That's my defence.