My Body Knew Her First

[INTRO] Left wing late. Half a beat. Crow call. Iron smell. Then— that voice. My body knew her first. [VERSE 1] Battle done. Black mud. Red grass. Wing against wind. One beat. Then the other. Late. Blood. Rain. Burned wood. Move. Stay with me. My chest tightened. I was small again. [CHORUS] LEFT WING LATE RIGHT WING TORN CROWS ABOVE THE BATTLE GONE BLOOD IN THE WIND SMOKE IN MY TEETH MY BODY KNEW HER FIRST LEFT WING LATE HALF A BEAT I NEVER KNEW HER NAME MY BODY KNEW HER FIRST [VERSE 2] She stood alone. Blood on her wing. Children underneath. Old scars. New blood. Her breath came rough. Then— that crooked grin. Same damn grin. Fire. White wing. Not this one. Not today. [BRIDGE] “I remember you.” She turned. “You saved me.” Silence. A laugh caught low in her throat. “You’re that kid.” Her eyes shone. One tear slipped through the blood on her cheek. “You lived.” She laughed again. This time it broke a little. “Thank you.” Her hand hit my hair— same weight. same warmth. I forgot how old I was. [FINAL CHORUS] LEFT WING LATE RIGHT WING TORN TEARS ON MY CHEEK BEFORE THE DAWN I HELD THE ONE WHO ONCE HELD ME NO TITLE NO WAR NO NAME MY BODY KNEW HER FIRST LEFT WING LATE HALF A BEAT HER HEART AGAINST MINE MY BODY KNEW HER FIRST [OUTRO] I held her. She smelled of blood, rain, and smoke. The curse stayed. Still— “You lived.” “Thank you.” Her heart laughed. Half a beat late.