[Verse 1] The spoon hit porcelain, then rolled beneath the chair Mom said, โLower your voice,โ Dad said, โYou donโt careโ I count the little squares across my bedroom floor A stripe of kitchen light is waiting under the door [Pre-Chorus] I know the pause before the picture frame comes loose I know the careful words that turn into an excuse My blanket to my chin, my hands around my knees If I stay very still, maybe they wonโt hear me breathe [Chorus] Not in front of me, not in front of me Say it softer, say it softer, please Not in front of me, not in front of me Iโm still here (still here), Iโm still here [Verse 2] The hallway clock keeps blinking 9:17 The dog has tucked his tail beside the washing machine A cabinet shuts too hard, the floorboard gives a creak I practice being brave with my face against my sleeve [Pre-Chorus] The house holds every sentence in the plaster seams Their anger fills the places where I used to dream I hear my name, then silence, then the faucet running cold I wish somebody knew Iโm not as small as I look [Chorus] Not in front of me, not in front of me Say it softer, say it softer, please Not in front of me, not in front of me Iโm still here (still here), Iโm still here [Bridge] Tomorrow I will pack my blue school bag Walk past the room like nothing happened But tonight the ceiling knows the truth And every quiet thing is listening too [Final Chorus] Not in front of me, not in front of me Say it softer, say it softer, please Not in front of me, not in front of me Iโm still here (still here), Iโm still here Not in front of me, not in front of me Donโt make me choose, donโt make me choose Not in front of me, not in front of me Iโm still here (still here), Iโm still here [Outro] The stripe of kitchen light gets thinner on the floor I hold my breath until the house is quiet once more
