Verse 1
I see her in the hallway… heart in my throat
I wonder if she even notices me at all
Or if I’m just a shadow… against the wall
I imagine talking… imagine her smile
But fear keeps me frozen… afraid all the time
[soft rasp on “afraid all the time,” let “smile” linger]
Pre-Chorus
Longing for courage… craving that first kiss
I rehearse my words… but I never say
Afraid my voice… will betray me anyway
[half-spoken, let the “betray me” crack, raspy]
Chorus
What if I reach for her hand… and she pulls away?
What if I stay silent… and lose today?
But what if she’s waiting… hoping I’ll try?
What if this moment is ours… if I just say hi?
Just say hi…
What if this moment is ours… if I just say hi?
[chorus: chest belt, voice cracks slightly on “say hi,” stretch “ours”]
Verse 2
I watch her from the corner… of the room
My thoughts are storms… every glance burns through
Maybe love begins… with trembling hands
Maybe she’s been hoping… that I understand
(verse: low, intimate, whisper “trembling hands,” rasp on “understand”)
Pre-Chorus 2
What if I’m too small… too broken to be seen?
What if my words stumble… a clumsy routine?
I count every second… trapped in hesitation
Afraid of revealing… the weight of my fixation
[build tension, raspy toward “fixation”]
Chorus 2
What if I reach for her hand… and she pulls away?
What if I stay silent… and lose today?
But what if she’s waiting… hoping I’ll try?
What if this moment is ours… if I just say hi?
If I just say hi…
[slightly bigger chest belt, hold “hi,” let it crack at the end]
Bridge
I imagine a life… where courage finds me first
Where fear dissolves… leaving only thirst
Thirst for connection… for the warmth of her gaze
For the chance to step out… of my quiet malaise
Maybe love is fragile… maybe love is brave
Maybe the only way forward… is the risk I must take
[bridge: whisper first half, build to belted “risk I must take”]
[Final Chorus / Emotional Climax]
What if I reach for her hand… and it’s too late?
What if my silence… steals another day?
But what if she’s waiting… hoping I’ll try?
What if this moment… could change everything… if I just say something?
(full chest voice, layered ad-libs: “ooooh… yeah… mmh…,” let “everything” linger)
[Outro soft, hopeful]
I’ll step closer tomorrow… even if I fall
Because what if she’s been waiting… through it all?
I fear the rejection… that hunts me at night
But her laugh… her eyes… they pull me near
Maybe courage lives… inside the fear
What if this moment… could change everything… if I just say something?
[voice trails off, airy, almost whisper, piano fades like a heartbeat]
Tonenico