Door at the end of the hallway Wasn't there yesterday Handle cold as winter teeth Whispered something Used my name Door in the drywall Hairline crack — just paint Blink and it's breathing Calling my name faint Cold in the hallway Clock hands start to bend Shadow steps forward Says "I've met you at the end" And I'm pulled Pulled under Past the breathing Into rooms that were never on the plan Face to face with the spirit of the ending Wearing my shadow in its hands "I've been walking right beside you Counting every quiet breath you bring" I crossed into the realm of the spirit of death Where every silent whisper steals a breath He took my fear and wore it like a crown Said "Child — you're not falling You're just turning around" In the realm of the spirit king Hearts beat loud in an empty chest Floorboards like water Sink through every plank Photos peel from plaster Faces blur then blank He walks beside me Bones wrapped up in smoke Speaks in all my memories Every promise I broke Hearts in jars on a crooked shelf Each one humming like a bell "Pick the one you think is yours" I reach And every label spells my self And I'm pulled Pulled open Past the breathing Into rooms that were never on the plan Face to face with the spirit of the ending I can almost hear it sing "I've been here in every silence Every day you felt you couldn't win" I crossed into the realm of the spirit of death Where every silent whisper steals a breath He took my fear and wore it like a crown Said "Child — you're not falling You're just turning around" In the realm of the spirit king Hearts beat loud in an empty chest "Do you fear me Or the mirror?" (so calm) "Do you want out Or an answer?" "Look at the life you dragged" All your almosts stacked like stones Every name you never called back Every lie you carved in bone "Tell me now Do you feel it change? You're not lost You're being weighed" Skin made out of falling dusk Eyes like unopened doors It touches every burning bruise I never named before Then he placed my hand in mine And all my ghosts obeyed Now I'm pulled Pulled open — not under Through the breathing Into light that was never on the plan Released by the spirit of the ending He laid my shadow on the ground Said "Go — you're not broken You're just turning around" I crossed from the realm of the spirit of death Left my borrowed sorrow Kept my breath He slipped my fear and laid it on the ground Said "Go — you're not broken You're just turning around" From the realm of the spirit king I walk out with an open chest (silence) (one heartbeat) (then another) (open)
