NARRATION ONLY — THIS IS NOT A SONG — DO NOT SING [Intro | extended ambient underscore | low sustained tones | pressure | 10–15 seconds] [Spoken Word | male | quieter | strained | searching] I know I can’t keep doing this. I know what it’s costing me. I know where this ends. But this is all I’ve ever known. This is how I’ve survived. This is how I’ve made it through. I don’t know who I am without it. I don’t know how to sleep. I don’t know how to get through a day without reaching for something. And I know stopping isn’t simple. I’ve heard what happens. The shaking. The panic. The seizures. I know that for some people, quitting can actually kill you. I don’t know if I can do this alone. I don’t know if I need help. I don’t know what that would cost. [Pause | breath | tension] [Spoken Word | same voice | firmer | urgent | controlling] You’re not ready. You think you are, but you’re not. You remember what withdrawal feels like. You know how bad it gets. What if it’s worse this time? What if you can’t handle it? What if you need a hospital? What if everyone finds out? Rehab. Detox. Doctors. Labels. You’ll lose your job. Your reputation. Your place. People will see you differently. You don’t need all that. You just need to steady yourself. This isn’t the moment to be brave. This is the moment to be careful. Stay. Just stay where you are. You can deal with this later. Right now, you need me. [Pause | silence | weight] [Spoken Word | quieter | exhausted | afraid] How will I live without you? [Outro | extended ambient underscore | unresolved | slow fade | 10–15 seconds]
