01 - The Moment Everything Changed

[Intro - Spoken, numb] I don't remember everything they told me. I remember being asked if I was alone. I looked at the empty chair beside me. I said yes. [Instrumental - Rhythmic low piano, clean guitar response] [Verse 1 - Intimate, unsettled] I kept repeating the same few bars My cup beside the music on the stand An unknown number lit up on my phone I left my other hand upon the keys The person on the line asked for my name Then said yours to make sure they had it right I said, “Yes, she's my sister” As if I could just hand the phone to you [Pre-Chorus - Fragile, disbelieving] I heard them say that you had died I asked them to repeat it Then said, “We spoke just yesterday” As if that meant they couldn't mean it [Chorus - Urgent, breaking] That's when everything changed Though nothing moved around me The same four walls, the same pale light A whole world going on without you I still had so much left to tell you I didn't know I had to tell you yesterday I sat in front of those same keys Not knowing where to put my hands That's when everything changed And I said, “That can't be right” [Instrumental - Bright guitar phrase, low piano answer] [Verse 2 - Distant, shaken] They asked if someone could come over I searched for names and couldn't think I said, “I need to call my sister” Then heard what I had said Outside, somebody searched for their keys I heard them laughing on the stairs I checked the time upon the oven Without a reason to look there [Pre-Chorus - Tension rising] The voice went on, I lost whole sentences I answered yes, not knowing what to Then I asked, “Was she alone?” Afraid of what they'd tell me [Chorus - Urgent, breaking] That's when everything changed Though nothing moved around me The same four walls, the same pale light A whole world going on without you I still had so much left to tell you I didn't know I had to tell you yesterday I sat in front of those same keys Not knowing where to put my hands That's when everything changed And I said, “That can't be right” [Bridge - Bare, disoriented] When the call was over I kept the phone against my ear I couldn't face what happened next I didn't know how to begin I opened up our conversation Your last message still on the screen I started typing, “Call me” Then left the words unsent [Build - Anger breaking through] Someone was still laughing outside I slammed the window shut I needed something else to happen To make the whole world stop [Instrumental - Driving piano, full-band lift] [Final Chorus - Powerful, devastated] That's when everything changed Though nothing moved around me The same four walls, the same pale light A whole world going on without you I still had so much left to tell you I didn't know I had to tell you yesterday I would've given anything to go back To the minute before I took that call That's when everything changed I understood what I'd been told But I kept looking at the door As if you might still come home [Outro - Spoken, hollow] The sheet music was still open. I'd forgotten what I was playing.