Left in the drawer

[tape saturation, subtle analog warmth] [verse 1] It was silver with a tiny charm A letter and a heart-shaped bead Wore it every single day When I still thought love meant need I said yes too fast, stayed too long Smiled through the warning signs That girl believed in fixing things Even as she lost her spine [pre-chorus] I found it coiled behind old notes The clasp still bent, the chain still fine But I don’t fit it anymore And I don’t miss what it defined [chorus] So I left it in the drawer With the ring I almost wore And the list of things I used to be Before I kept the peace too deep It’s not broken, just not mine Like a voice I can’t rewind She’d still say yes like before But I left her in the drawer [verse 2] I remember how it used to shine Felt like armor on my wrist Like if I just stayed soft enough He’d learn how not to use his fists I wasn’t stupid, just believed That love was earned, not freely given But freedom has a sharper light And I’m still squinting in its vision [pre-chorus] So I don’t wear those pieces now They pulled me back when I got close To being someone unafraid Of walking out and locking doors [chorus] So I left it in the drawer With the voice that begged for more And the version of me built from fear That only spoke when no one hears It’s not broken, just not mine Like a dream I left behind She still cries like she did before But I left her in the drawer [bridge] I don’t throw her out But I won’t let her steer She had her reasons But I live here [final chorus] So I left her in the drawer With the ring I almost wore With every piece I had to lose To learn which cuts were mine to choose She was loyal, she was kind But she never drew a line And I don’t hate her anymore I just left her in the drawer