I Ate Darkness Whole (Rowyn)

[Verse 1 - warm, close mic, folk guitar] I was a village boy beside a stream in light, then I crossed the water into permanent night. I made the vow, I learned to fight and bleed — each scar a small confession of the one thing that I need. [Chorus - fuller, slight reverb] I became a monster for you. I ate the darkness whole and didn’t lose my heart. I walked the Abyss through — burned every bridge for you. I’m not the boy from the stream. I’m the mouth that ate the dark. [Verse 2 - voice slightly distanced, darker mix] The void clings to my fingers now, the green eye sees for two. I carry my enemy inside me just to crawl back to you. He knows what makes you gasp, he moves when our hands touch — I've learned to love you louder so the ghost can't drink as much. [Chorus - doubled vocal, hollow undertone] I became a monster for you. I ate the darkness whole and didn’t lose my heart. I walked the Abyss through — burned every bridge for you. I’m not the boy from the stream. I’m the mouth that ate the dark. [Bridge - two voices, one his, one not quite] She said: I accept what you are. She said: I choose this anyway. This is not rescue. This is recognition — Two catastrophes choosing the same day. [Final Chorus - full void treatment, harmonic shadow beneath every note] I became a monster for you. I ate the darkness whole and didn’t lose my heart. I walked the Abyss through — burned every bridge for you. I’m not the boy from the stream. I’m the mouth that ate the dark.