Someone's First Choice

Sarah called us round one night Small flat, low lamps, yellow light Mismatched chairs, garlic bread Six of us and things unsaid I went ‘cause I wanted to Not just filling up a room Sat up straighter than before Like I might be something more He walked in like he knew the frame Half a smile, said his name Elliot Ross, camera charm Golden fields hung on his arm We joked it off at work all week “Your boyfriend’s here” “No, yours to keep” Easy lines, a passing spark Didn’t know it’d leave a mark In the low light, something changed No script to follow, nothing staged No need to hide or rearrange I was seen and I stayed For a moment, clear and true No disguise, just passing through I was wanted, simple choice I was someone’s first choice Night ran down to just us three Second bottle, quiet energy Sleeves rolled up, lingering looks Hands that brushed like open books Sarah laughed, called it time Left him there, left me behind I slipped off but couldn’t sleep Felt it buzzing underneath Midnight door and softened air He lay down beside me there Didn’t rush, just let it sit Then he trusted me with it “In case you want to…” quiet, plain Spoke the truth without a shield or shame For a second, fear was loud Then it faded in the crowd In the low light, something changed Past the doubt, past the strange No need to fix or explain I just let him remain For a moment, nothing forced No retreat, no double course I was wanted, no invoice I was someone’s first choice Morning light through cheap white blinds Coffee, laughter, tangled lines He said he’s not what he seems Just a man with fragile dreams Sarah walked in, dropped her cup Like the night had caught us up I just smiled, couldn’t hide Something open up inside Days went slow in waiting rooms Counting hours, holding breath When it came back, she cried hard Relief dancing close with death ‘Cause he still carried that weight Every room, every date And he chose to say it clear Chose to trust that I would hear In the daylight, something stayed Not just heat that fades away But a quiet kind of grace That I could take my place Not forever, not the end Just a spark I could defend I was wanted, clear of noise I was someone’s first choice Saw his face on magazine gloss Turned away, already lost No goodbye, just gone from view Like a dream that once felt true Still I walk a little tall Speak up more, risk it all ‘Cause once, in borrowed light I was someone’s first choice