Fractured Silence

(Intro mirrors opening track)
	(Soft ambient guitars, distant reverb echoes)
	(Slow heartbeat percussion, faint metallic clangs like distant chains breaking)
	(Whispered lines:)

I hear the echoes again…
The shadows I thought I left behind…

(Verse 1 soft → tense, building)
I remember every word they said
The cracks in my chest from lying in bed
Fists and fury, voices that tore
But I’m still standing, still wanting more

I replayed the pain, let it sink in deep
Holding it close only stole my sleep
I wrestled with ghosts I didn’t choose
Learning the hardest way to lose

(Pre-Chorus gentle swell → heavier)
I won’t be haunted by what I’ve survived
I won’t let anger control my life
The past can scream, but I won’t respond
I’ve built myself from the wreckage beyond

(Chorus expansive, cinematic, clean + light screams)
ASHES DON’T OWN ME, I’M STILL BREATHING
THE FIRE THEY LEFT BEHIND IS NOT LEAVING
I’VE FELT THE HURT, I’VE FELT THE STING
BUT I REFUSE TO LET IT TAKE MY WINGS
Chains can echo, shadows can bite
But I carry the dawn into the night
Ashes don’t own me, I rise

(Verse 2 heavier, echoes the motif of intro)
I saw the faces that tried to define
Every flaw as a fault of mine
I felt their laughter, their pointed blame
I heard my name used like a game

But I’ve learned the truth behind the lies
The fire that burns is mine to rise
I don’t forgive to ease their pain
I forgive to release my own chain

(Rap Bridge internal, reflective, rhythmic)
Yeah—
I’ve been angry, I’ve been bitter, yeah it’s true
Every scar, every bruise I knew
I wanted revenge, I wanted to strike
But that’s not the life I want to like

The echoes whisper, but I control the sound
I took my shadows, laid them on the ground
I confront the past without fear or hate
I walk forward, I dictate my fate

(Breakdown half-time, soft echoes → crushing)
I won’t be caged by echoing cries
I won’t let the past steal my skies
I hold the ashes, I hold the flame
More than the pain, I rise in my name

(Final Chorus full, reflective + heavy lift)
ASHES DON’T OWN ME, I’M STILL BREATHING
THE FIRE THEY LEFT BEHIND IS NOT LEAVING
I’VE FELT THE HURT, I’VE FELT THE STING
BUT I REFUSE TO LET IT TAKE MY WINGS
Chains can echo, shadows can bite
But I carry the dawn into the night
Ashes don’t own me, I rise

(Outro mirrors opening ambience)
	(Clean, ambient guitar with reverb)
	(Faint whispers echo:)

The shadows fade…
I am here…
I rise…

Interlude for a metal album, with some rap, male