The second before yes

[immediate riff] [Verse 1] You stood there with your coat still on, Car keys cutting through your hand. The kettle clicked. The kitchen stopped. I asked the question we had planned A hundred careful ways around: “Do you still want me in your life?” Your eyes went first. Your shoulders next. Your mouth arrived a second late. Then you said, “Yes.” So warm. So clear. So beautifully rehearsed. But your whole body packed a bag Before you found the words. [Chorus] I HEARD THE TRUTH IN THE SECOND BEFORE YES! You can dress it up in mercy, You can call it second guess. But the silence got there first. And the words came second best. I heard the truth— I heard the truth— IN THE SECOND BEFORE YES! [Instrumental] [Verse 2] You came back carrying white flowers, Still wrapped in supermarket film. Said you were tired, said you were frightened, Said the room was closing in. You blamed the weather. Blamed the hour. Blamed the question coming wrong. Funny how a frightened heart Can write a seven-minute song. You said, “I never meant to hurt you. I just needed time to think.” No, darling— You needed time to make the answer Sound less cruel than your first instinct. [Chorus] I HEARD THE TRUTH IN THE SECOND BEFORE YES! You can dress it up in mercy, You can call it second guess. But the silence got there first. And the words came second best. I heard the truth— I heard the truth— IN THE SECOND BEFORE YES! [Post-Chorus] One second. That was all. Not enough to end a life— just enough to show the fault. You didn’t break us in that silence. You showed me where we’d already broken. [Twin guitars solo] [Final Chorus] I HEARD THE TRUTH IN THE SECOND BEFORE YES! Keep the flowers. Keep the mercy. Keep the beautifully expressed regret. The silence got there first. And I finally learned to listen. Now ask me if I’m leaving. I don’t need a second guess. YES! I heard the truth— now you can hear mine: YES! No pause. No mercy. No words left to correct. You gave me one second of truth— AND I’M TAKING BACK THE REST!