[INTRO - Deep sub-bass heartbeat, lake ambience, distant metallic scrape, low male vocal] They always run. I know the sound. Footsteps in the leaves. Doors slamming. Screaming through the trees. You didn't. [VERSE 1 - Low cello, slow tom heartbeat, sparse piano] I watched you from the treeline The night you found the lake You saw the mask You saw the scars You saw the shape I became You should've turned around You should've disappeared Everyone who sees me Knows exactly what to fear But you looked at me Not through me. [VERSE 2 - Music box enters beneath dark percussion] You reached toward my face Like I was worth touching No screaming No running No trembling hands I didn't understand it I've worn this mask for years I've watched them look away I've heard them call me monster I've heard them curse my name But you said nothing. You just stayed. [PRE-CHORUS - Rising strings, heartbeat growing] I don't know the words For what you gave me I don't know how to hold Something I can't break So I stood behind you When the dark came close And for the first time I knew what I wanted to keep [CHORUS - Massive low percussion, dark strings, ethereal female harmony] You stayed When every instinct said to run You stayed When you saw what I'd become You touched the face beneath the mask And never asked me to change You looked into the darkness And you weren't afraid Let them call me monster Let them run from what they see If the whole world comes against you They'll have to come through me I don't know how to love you The way the living say they do But I know this much You stayed. [POST-CHORUS - Music box and distant female harmony] And I will stay too. [VERSE 3 - Intimate, stripped back] I remember every night You sat beside the lake You talked when I was silent Never asking me to speak You left the cabin door unlocked You never feared my shadow And when I stood outside You looked at me and whispered Come home. No one ever said that to me. [VERSE 4 - Deep bass returns] They taught me that the world Was something I should hate Every face became a threat Every hand became a blade But you put your hand in mine And didn't pull away You showed me something different Something I don't have a name for [PRE-CHORUS - Dark choir rising] I learned your footsteps I learned your voice I learned the way you breathe When you're frightened I learned the difference Between your tears and rain I learned that sometimes Protecting something Means putting the weapon down [CHORUS - Full cinematic arrangement] You stayed When every instinct said to run You stayed When you saw what I'd become You touched the face beneath the mask And never asked me to change You looked into the darkness And you weren't afraid Let the forest know your name Let the lake remember mine If something comes to hurt you I'll be standing by your side I don't know how to promise I don't know how to pray But if you call me from the darkness I'll find my way [BRIDGE - Piano, lake water, single cello note] I remember the water. The cold. The dark. The sound of them leaving. I remember waiting. Nobody came. Then you did. You didn't pull me from the lake. You didn't tell me I wasn't broken. You simply sat beside me. And stayed. [BUILD - Massive percussion returns] Maybe that's what I was waiting for. Not resurrection. Not revenge. Not another name to fear. Just someone Who wouldn't leave. [FINAL CHORUS - Huge cinematic climax] You stayed. So nothing gets to take you now. You stayed. So I'll stand between you and the dark. You saw the blood You saw the scars You saw the man beneath the pain You touched the mask You said my name And somehow I remained. Let them fear the woods Let them fear the lake Let them tell their stories About the monster they made When the night comes calling And the whole world turns away I'll be there beside you Like you were beside me When I had nowhere else to stay. [OUTRO - Music box, heartbeat, lake ambience] You stayed. So I won't let you face the dark alone. You stayed. And I'll find you. Every time. [Final whispered vocal] You gave me somewhere to stay.
