Forgetting my place...

Y'all niggas deal with emotions like b*tches
What's sad is I love you 'cause you're my brother
You traded your soul for riches
My child, I've watched you grow up to be famous
And now I smile like a proud dad, watching his only son that made it

-Nas from "Ether" off his Stillmatic LP

I gave you a place to rest your head...
Fed you when you were hungry...
Comfort when you were broken...
Peace when you were dying inside...

Now all I hear from you is lies and inconsistencies
These unfortunate portions of your soul that chose to bare themselves to me...
On the eve of my breakthrough...
I take it you...
Are feeling yourself...

Worse than death, betrayal is hell...
A heart too big to dwell inside this fleshly shell and fragile frame
I gave you love, identity, and a new name...
I christened you "the one who would be first"
I lifted you when even family would rather see you in dirt...
I selflessly gave you footing...
Now I helplessly stand here weeping...on the inside

My tears dried in my heart and left the residue of a friendship...
Scratch that...
A Kinship...
A bond that knew no boundaries...or so I thought...
Now I want to take back all of the travailing truths that I bought...

For us...

Standing in the gap for you made me stronger....

DAMN...

I wish strength didn't hurt so much...