Smoke that never left

Four young voices in a broken home,

Shots in the night, and then the flames.

I ran through the fire just praying

I could pull them back from the pain.

But some nights don’t give second chances,

Some stories end before they should—

And I carry their names inside me

Like a scar carved into wood.

I swear I fought the fire back,

But the memories still attack.

’Cause there’s smoke that never leaves,

Faces I can’t unsee.

I gave everything I had,

But it still lives inside of me.

And I know we don’t win them all,

But the guilt comes in like thieves—

Stealing sleep, stealing peace…

Yeah, there’s smoke that never leaves.

⸻

Found a man thrown from the wreckage,

Moonlight shining on the scene.

Held his hand so he wasn’t alone,

Even as he slipped between.

And that roof that caved without warning—

The sound still shakes my bones.

I still feel the heat on my shoulders,

Hear the Mayday in my headphones.

Every call leaves its mark,

Some burn deeper in the dark.

’Cause there’s smoke that never leaves,

Voices calling out to me.

I tried to fight back time,

But I couldn’t change what had to be.

And I know I stood the line,

But the weight still makes me bleed—

From the smoke, from the memories…

Yeah, there’s smoke that never leaves.

⸻

I’ve seen the aftermath of giving up,

Found too many on their final ledge.

I tried to pull them back to living,

But some slip over the edge.

I tell myself, “You showed up,

You gave more than most ever could.”

Still the shadows argue back,

Saying I should’ve done more… should’ve, should’ve…

⸻

There’s smoke that never leaves,

Lives I couldn’t keep.

But I still light the bay doors open

For the ones looking down on me.

And maybe one day I’ll believe

I did enough, I didn’t fail—

But until then I carry them,

Every story, every trail…

Some fires burn out—

Some burn inside you instead