I am not a fighter.

I am not a warrior.

I do not charge into battle,

Blades drawn.

And I certainly don’t come out a hero.

I am not a legend,

Not a heroine of tales and myths.

I do not encounter death and despair,

Do not raise my sword and torch to face it.

I am not powerful,

Not brave or strong.

I am not a fighter.

I am a survivor.

I endure.

Where others might gather knives and swords,

I draw my shield,

Prepare my armor.

I do not willingly enter battle -

But I will leave it.

I will not bleed out on an open field,

Will not take a hit and go down.

Even when my body is covered in bruises,

Even when my limbs ache,

Even when my lungs give out

And my heart takes shuddering beats,

I will escape the battlefield.

I would crawl if I had to,

I would drag myself to safety.

I am a survivor.