“ In The Middle Of Flames 🔥 “Vocals by12Gauge858

“IN THE MIDDLE OF FLAMES” Performed vocals by 12Gauge858 Written by 12Gauge858 Sonic direction:** Slow-burn hypnotic Gothic •alternative R&B • cinematic soul • electric blues guitar darker cello and violin • heartbeat 808 • close-mic emotional tenor • audible breaths • restrained female-memory vocal INTRO — LOVE 911] Low fire crackle. One slow heartbeat. Dark felt piano enters beneath a distant cello.] Operator — filtered, almost dreamlike] Love 911... What’s your emergency? **[Long pause. Male breathes close to the microphone.]** **[Male — broken whisper]** I haven’t heard from her... And I know that don’t sound like an emergency... But... My plate’s still sitting there... I’ve checked my phone more times than I can count... And every minute she don’t say something... Feels like another match striking inside me. **[Operator]** Are you in danger? **[Male]** No... But my mind is on fire. **[One blues-guitar note bends into Verse 1.] VERSE 1 — THE WAIT BEGINS] Your last message still open on my screen... I read it so many times I know where every pause should be. Phone lying faceup beside an untouched plate... Every time the room gets quiet... I swear I feel it vibrate. I walk from the kitchen to the window... Then turn around and do it again. Tell myself you might be sleeping... Maybe you’re busy... Maybe the day got heavy and you needed time inside your own head. I know you don’t owe me every minute... I know love ain’t supposed to keep score... But when you go silent... Every fear I ever buried starts walking across the floor. Female memory — distant and warm] You know I love you... Male — quietly] Then why does the silence make it feel like I’m losing you? PRE-CHORUS — PRESSURE RISING] Every time the screen lights up... My heart moves before I do. Every name that isn’t yours... Makes the whole room feel colder. I keep telling myself... Don’t panic... Don’t turn one quiet night into goodbye. But the longer I don’t hear from you... The more the smoke gets in my mind. Background whispers begin.] Pressure... Pressure... Pressure... --- ## [CHORUS — THE SOUL IN FLAMES] I’m in the middle of flames... Waiting to see your name... Every minute you don’t answer... The fire rises again. Got my phone in my hand... But I can’t make it ring... And loving you this deeply... Makes the silence feel like everything. I can’t eat... I can’t sleep... I keep walking through the same room. Girl, I ain’t mad... I’m just scared... Of what the silence might mean to you. My mind is burning... My heart can’t explain... What it feels like loving you... In the middle of flames. Background stack rises.] Pressure... Pressure... Pressure... POST-CHORUS — CONFESSION] Music drops. Only heartbeat and dark piano remain.] I know... You might just need time. I know... The world don’t stop because I miss you. But when you’re the place my heart goes to rest... And I can’t reach you... Where am I supposed to go? VERSE 2 — THE NIGHT DEEPENS] It’s almost morning... And I still haven’t changed out of yesterday’s clothes. Your picture glowing from the lock screen... Like the phone knows exactly where it hurts the most. I started typing... “Are we okay?” Then erased it... Didn’t wanna make my fear feel like your weight. Typed... “I miss you.” Deleted that too... Because I’ve said it so much I’m afraid the words might start sounding small. But there ain’t nothing small about what happens to me... When the woman I love goes quiet... And my heart can’t find a reason why. I remember your voice telling me... Female memory — soft] Breathe... You think too much when you’re afraid. **[Male]** I’m trying, baby... But every breath without hearing you... Feels like smoke inside my chest. PRE-CHORUS 2 — CLOSE TO BREAKING] I checked the signal... Checked the time... Checked every message one more time. Put the phone down... Picked it back up... Like my hands don’t trust my mind. I don’t need a perfect explanation... I don’t need you to apologize. I just need one word... One little sign... To tell this fire you’re still mine. Background vocals build.] Pressure... Pressure... Pressure... Pressure... CHORUS 2 — STRONGER VOCAL] I’m in the middle of flames... Waiting to see your name... Every minute you don’t answer... The fire rises again. Got my phone in my hand... But I can’t make it ring... And loving you this deeply... Makes the silence feel like everything. I can’t eat... I can’t sleep... I keep walking through the same room. Girl, I ain’t mad... I’m just scared... Of what the silence might mean to you. My mind is burning... My heart can’t explain... What it feels like loving you... In the middle of flames. BRIDGE — THE REAL TRUTH] Everything strips away except the heartbeat, low