Grown, but not raised

She's a sister, yet no siblings

A daughter with no mother, and someone else's father.

A niece, but with no-one to keep her secrets,

A child with no family 

Loved but not cherished

Cared for, with no commitment 

Counted, but not included.

But,

She's strong when she could have been weak,

Survived where she could have just cried,

Healed when she should have been broken, 

Learnt to love where she could have hated,

Forgiving, but doesnt forget

Built a family out of friends, 

Is a mother, when she didn't learn how.