Heart on Display

(Piano + muted electric guitar harmonics)

You’re half in the doorway

Shoes on

But you still sit down

Your coffee’s gone colder

We dance around what’s going down

I trace all the circles

Our photos on your cracked phone screen

You say that you’re “confused”

I know exactly what you mean

(Male voice enters quietly on last line)

[M – harmony] exactly what you mean…

(Bass fades in, heartbeat-like kick)

You keep saying “give it time”

Like time ain’t taking sides

taking sides…

(Full band opens: drums, bass, rhythm guitar; still restrained)

I don’t wanna

Don’t wanna

Don’t wanna keep you around if you don’t wanna stay

if you don’t wanna stay…

Got my fingers on your shadow

Heart on delay

heart on delay…

It’s so hard to keep you on

But it’s so easier to let you go

So easier to let you go

(Band cuts sharply except piano tail.)

⸻

(Drums drop out. Acoustic guitar fingerpicking replaces electric.)

Your jacket on my chair

Sleeves wrapped up in my old shirt

You laugh at some old story

We both know that laughter hurts

You’re talking about “someday”

I’m nodding like I still believe

low register

My chest says “pull you closer”

My hands just roll your sleeves

(Male voice whispers the last word)

[M] sleeves…

(Strings enter quietly for the first time.)

You’re here but you’re not here

you’re not here…

And I’m tired of pretending I don’t feel it

⸻

(Bigger than first chorus — crash cymbals, fuller harmonies.)

I don’t wanna

Don’t wanna

Don’t wanna keep you around if you don’t wanna stay

don’t wanna stay…

Got my fingers on your shadow

Heart on delay

It’s so hard to keep you on

But it’s so easier to let you go

(On “go,” band drops completely.)

⸻

[Bridge] (strip everything back)

(Only piano + distant pad. No drums.)

If leaving’s what you’re choosing

I won’t beg you to be mine

I never asked you to…

I’d rather miss the version of you

Than live with this half-trying

I won’t be your almost

I won’t be your in-between

won’t be your in-between…

I need a love that shows up

Not one that leans to leave

(Key change up. Full band. Strings, open drums, wide harmonies.)

I don’t wanna

Don’t wanna

Don’t wanna love you alone this way

alone this way…

I’ve been holding onto silence

Hoping you’d say

You’re gonna finally stay

(Band sustains… audience expects a huge final note.)

(Everything cuts to silence except a dry, close-mic male voice.)

I already left.

(Two beats of silence.)

(Female voice enters alone, barely above a whisper.)

…yeah.

I know.

(Single piano note. Tape hiss. End.)