[Verse] Alice keeps her key in the sugar tin Under the sink by the dish soap and gin She laughs at the clock like it owes her cash Shoes by the door, keys in a glass She texted back late, "I'm on my way" But she shows up when the coffee's cold and gray Alice, she never says what she means But she leaves her mark on the in-between [Verse] She buys three limes and leaves the cart in aisle ten Forgets her umbrella, comes back wet again Wrings out her sleeves on the welcome mat Says, "Don't make it weird," then laughs at that Her boots by the stove, her coat on the chair Like she meant to stay, like she lives there [Verse] There's a dent in the counter from the day she slammed A mug, a phone, maybe just her hand She plays old cassettes with the tape half chewed Sings in the kitchen with the window loose Not for the room, not for me, not then Just because she can, and it starts again [Verse] She keeps a note in her jacket cuff "Pay the gas bill, buy more bread, call Mom" But the bread goes stale and the gas runs low Still she hums to herself while she lets it go At 2 a.m. she's under the sink Looking for the tin like she always thinks [Verse] When the power cuts, she doesn't panic Finds a tea light, calls it magic Sets two plates down, one fork short Makes a whole meal out of what's left in the drawer She says, "Life's a mess, let it be a mess" Then she grins like she passed some test [Verse] By Sunday morning the place looks lived in A trail of socks and a half-read split zine She ties up her hair with a receipt Waves from the doorway, already halfway sweet Alice never stays where you put her name But the house keeps moving after she came
