INTRO (quiet, trembling → distortion) I don’t hate you. That’s the truth. But you came closer than anyone to ending who I was. This is for Shadow— the version that survived. ⸻ VERSE 1 (Rap – raw, confessional) You didn’t hurt me loud, you hurt me slow With mixed signals, “stay” then “go” You made me feel chosen, then unsure Had me chasing clarity I never got pure I gave you patience I should’ve kept Ignored my gut every time it screamed “step” I trusted words more than your actions showed That’s on me—I wanted the story, not the code You said you cared but disappeared When things got heavy, when I got real I stayed consistent, you stayed vague Left me loving someone half-engaged That wasn’t love, that was erosion Day by day, piece by piece, emotion You didn’t raise your voice or throw a punch You just left me hanging—over and over—once was too much ⸻ PRE-CHORUS (low, shaking, restrained) I questioned my worth I questioned my needs I thought maybe loving you Meant losing me ⸻ CHORUS (Metal – emotional, breaking through) 🔥 YOU ALMOST BROKE SHADOW 🔥 Had me doubting my ground 🔥 I LOST MY BALANCE TRYING TO HOLD YOU 🔥 While you faded out From the hope to the silence to the nights I ran I didn’t fall—I learned who I am 🔥 YOU ALMOST BROKE SHADOW 🔥 But I stood where I stand ⸻ VERSE 2 (Rap – anger under control) I replayed texts like they were clues Trying to decode what I meant to you I blamed timing, stress, the world Anything but the truth I didn’t want to hold The truth was simple, but it hurt the most I cared deeper than you ever chose I was building something real in my head You were just there ‘til it got inconvenient I shrunk myself to keep you close Lowered standards, ignored my own code That’s not love—that’s fear in disguise Fear of losing you, fear of goodbye You didn’t ask me to change who I was I just did it to feel enough That’s the part that still stings my chest Not losing you—losing my self-respect ⸻ BREAKDOWN (Metal – slow, crushing, emotional) I—BENT I—WAITED I—HOPED YOU—HESITATED I—STAYED YOU—DRIFTED I—BROKE YOU—DIDN’T—NOTICE ⸻ BUILD-UP (spoken, breaking then firm) You didn’t destroy me. But you showed me a version of pain I’ll never let myself repeat. That lesson cost me sleep, confidence, peace… But it saved Shadow from disappearing. ⸻ FINAL CHORUS (full force, layered vocals) 🔥 YOU ALMOST BROKE SHADOW 🔥 But I rebuilt from truth 🔥 I CHOSE MYSELF OVER THE MAYBE 🔥 That I kept chasing in you From the tears to the clarity to the line I drew I don’t bleed for someone who won’t choose 🔥 YOU ALMOST BROKE SHADOW 🔥 But now I’m unmovable ⸻ OUTRO (quiet, resolved, no anger) I don’t wish you pain. I don’t wish you back. I wish I had chosen myself sooner. You didn’t break me… But you taught me exactly why Shadow has boundaries now.

“ALMOST BROKE SHADOW”