My hand is on the level now I choose where it goes I used to cut myself out of the mix Keep every need below the smallest tick Then carry every yes until it burned And act surprised when all the limits blurred I feel the old reflex pull Disappear or lose control But there is ground between the two And I can choose what I will do Not on zero I don't have to vanish to be safe Not on zero I don't have to shake the whole damn place I set the level I can hold If I slip, I move it off of zero Move one deadline, let the schedule bend Ask for backup long before I hit the end Leave when I need to, let a hard no stand Make the smaller move while the choice is in my hands I used to wait until I couldn't choose Then blame the pace for everything I'd lose Now I act while I can still decide I drop one task and ask for help this time I feel the old reflex pull Disappear or lose control There is still ground between the two And I can choose what I will do Not on zero I don't have to vanish to be safe Not on zero I don't have to shake the whole damn place I set the level I can hold If I slip, I move it off of zero Some days I shut down, cancel every plan Find myself small with the dial in my hand No clean reset, no promise it stays I move it one notch and step back in the day I don't need perfect to begin I only need one step back in Not on zero I don't have to vanish to be safe Not on zero I don't have to shake the whole damn place I set the level I can hold When I slip, I find the mark and go Not all the way — just not on zero My hand is on the level now.
