Empty Chair, Heavy Heart

[Verse 1]
Your jacket on the back of the chair
Hangs there like you're coming home late
Coffee cup with your name half-faded
I trace the letters till my fingers shake
Floorboard where your boots used to land
I still flinch at every passing van
Nights get loud inside my head
Every quiet room turns red
[Chorus]
Tell me how to breathe in the dark like this
How to stand my ground when the floorboard splits
Dad
I'm drowning in a crowd
Can't hear your voice
And every little choice just feels like breaking
I keep talking to the air like you're gonna answer
Begging for a sign on the bathroom mirror
I'm your daughter
But I'm lost
Coming apart
With an empty chair and a heavy heart
[Verse 2]
Alarm rings
I kill it again
Can't face the day
Can't fake the grin
Therapist says "write down what hurts"
Ran out of paper
Ran out of words
Phone lights up
I let it ring
Friends say "come out
" I can't do a thing
Staring at your number in my call list still
Like I might dial you back by will
[Chorus]
Tell me how to breathe in the dark like this
How to stand my ground when the floorboard splits
Dad
I'm drowning in a crowd
Can't hear your voice
And every little choice just feels like breaking
I keep talking to the air like you're gonna answer
Begging for a sign on the bathroom mirror
I'm your daughter
But I'm lost
Coming apart
With an empty chair and a heavy heart
[Bridge]
You told me once
"When the storm comes through
Plant your feet and let it move past you"
Well
It's been raining for a year straight
Dad
And I'm still soaked
Still so mad (so mad)
But I put on your old
Ripped shirt
Feel the weight
Feel the burn
Feel the hurt
If I can carry all this pain tonight
Maybe I can carry your name right
[Chorus]
Tell me how to breathe in the dark like this
How to stand my ground when the floorboard splits
Dad
I'm shaking in the crowd
But I hear your voice
Saying
"You still have a choice
Keep on staying"
I'll keep talking to the air till I feel you closer
Writing out your words on the cracked old mirror
I'm your daughter
I’m not done
I’ll restart
From the empty chair to a healing heart

rock, Mid-tempo emotive rock, male vocals, crunchy guitars and steady drums that rise from hushed verses into a soaring, cathartic chorus; palm-muted tension in the build, wide distorted power chords on the hook, bass locking the groove, with a melodic lead line and stacked gang vocals in the final chorus for an anthemic, tearful release