Met Me At My Worst

You met me when freedom still felt unfamiliar,

Fresh out, whole world lookin’ different in the mirror.

Had a future in my head, but I ain’t know me yet—

You met a man becoming, then remember what you met.

Came home with a plan, put my hands into construction,

Tryna turn a fucked-up past into productive.

Then I met Nora, started building something bigger,

Wanted walls around a future, not a cell around a sinner.

Found a house, saw a home, saw the rooms we could change,

Saw us standing in the kitchen while we’re painting every frame.

But you left before the renovation ever got started,

Funny how I fixed the house while everything departed.

You said I should’ve followed—I said how was I to know?

I ain’t ever learned to read what somebody wouldn’t show.

And yeah, today I wish I’d packed my shit and went,

But back then that little house was what security meant.

First place I could breathe, first place I could grow,

After years of being told where I could and couldn’t go.

So when you said “come with me,” I couldn’t understand—

I was finally somewhere safe enough to learn to be a man.

YOU MET ME AT MY WORST—

DON’T CONFUSE THAT WITH MY WORTH.

I was learning how to live

while I was loving you through hurt.

You knew me before I knew me,

that’s the blessing and the curse.

I gave you what I had—

YOU MET ME AT MY WORST.

I got quiet—not because I didn’t give a damn,

I could see you had your battles, didn’t wanna add to them.

So I swallowed every sentence, let the pressure sit inside,

Thought that giving you some space was how a partner stood beside.

But silence ain’t communication, now I understand,

Can’t call ourselves a team if I don’t tell you where I stand.

I was busy defending me instead of defending us,

Then opinions from the outside started getting way too much.

Everybody got a window into shit that should’ve stayed

Between the only two damn people who were living it each day.

I tolerated disrespect because I didn’t want a fight,

Now I’ll calmly draw the line instead of disappearing for the night.

That’s growth—I don’t need rage to prove that I’ve got pride,

I found freedom in myself that ain’t dependent on outside.

I still love you.

That ain’t weakness, that’s the truth.

Still in love with who you are,

while I’m learning who I grew into.

You were my partner—

I can admit where I went wrong.

Sometimes love survives inside you

even when the home’s gone.

YOU MET ME AT MY WORST—

BUT I LOVED YOU WITH MY BEST.

You met me halfway broken,

I was building what came next.

If our roads ever cross again,

you won’t recognize me first—

You’ll finally meet the man

I was becoming at my worst.

Maybe people gotta lose you

before they meet the newer you.

You knew me before I knew myself.

If you meet me now—

you meet me free.