You always spoke in almosts
Like they sounded softer in your mouth
Like promises survive better
When nobody says them loud
And I learned your quiet habits
The way you look away mid-sentence
Like somewhere in your chest
There’s a door you never enter
We stood outside in winter coats
Watching headlights flood the street
You said, “Maybe when things settle”
Like time was ours to keep
But I don’t live in someday
I don’t sleep beside delay
I can love you with my whole heart
And still walk away
So I won’t ask you to wait for me
The art of waiting ain’t in my books
I’ve seen people turn their lives
Into half-finished looks
Into empty stations
Into faith nobody shook
And I won’t ask you to wait for me
The art of waiting ain’t in my books
You traced circles on the table
While the coffee shop went dark
Like if you stretched the ending long enough
It wouldn’t leave a mark
And maybe there are people
Built to hold a candle for years
Keeping old words warm
Long after no one hears
Maybe they can call it love
To stand still and let it ache
But every road I’ve ever taken
Asked me what I’d choose to break
And I can break my own heart
But I can’t freeze it in place
I can’t keep reaching backwards
Just to keep your shape
So I won’t ask you to wait for me
The art of waiting ain’t in my books
I’ve seen longing dressed so pretty
People mistake it for good
Like staying hurts less
Than admitting you never could
And I won’t ask you to wait for me
The art of waiting ain’t in my books
You say “someday” like it’s romantic
Like I should melt hearing you hesitate
But all I hear’s another version
Of “I don’t love you enough to change”
And I hate that part of me still wonders
If you’d stop me if I walked away
’Cause if I turn around and you say nothing
That’ll tell me everything
So I won’t ask you to wait for me
No, I won’t turn hope into a hook
You can call me restless
But I’ve seen what waiting took
From people who stood faithful
Till their whole lives overlooked
So I won’t ask you to wait for me
The art of waiting ain’t in my books
I won’t live inside a maybe
I won’t make a home from almosts
And I won’t ask you to wait for me
