Wilted Leaves

[First Frost - delicate plucked strings and muted piano, low vocal enters immediately]

I left the window open
Long after summer changed.
Told myself the colder air
Was only passing through again.

I moved us toward the sunlight.
I gave us everything I knew.
But nothing grows forever
Just because you want it to.

[Verse 1 - warm sub-bass and dry drums settle into a steady groove]

I kept watering wilted leaves,
Turning brown sides toward the light.
Changing soil and changing reasons,
Trying everything but goodbye.

Maybe it was love.
Maybe friendship.
Maybe some imagined life.

Maybe I was keeping something
That had already said goodnight.

I thought patience made me faithful.
I thought leaving made me cruel.
So I stayed beyond the ending
Like endurance was the rule.

[Falling Refrain - smooth bilingual chorus, firm but restrained]

I kept watering wilted leaves,
Calling patience what was killing me.
Some things do not need more love.
Some things need to be released.

시든 잎에 물을 주며
끝난 계절을 붙잡았어.

You cannot save a dying season
By pretending it is spring.

[Verse 2 - sharper rhythm, plucked strings become more active]

I blamed myself for every silence,
Every distance I could feel.
Thought if I became more careful,
I could make the damage heal.

But hope cannot command the roots.
Love cannot order green to grow.
Sometimes holding on is only
Being terrified to let go.

Not everything ends in anger.
Not every goodbye proves love was wrong.
Some things simply reach their winter
Even when the roots were strong.

I did not waste the care I gave.
I did not fail because it ends.
Something can be real and beautiful
Without becoming permanent.

[Korean Turn - drums narrow, muted piano and low cello]

봄이 아닌데 봄인 척
더는 하지 않을 거야.

놓아주는 것도 사랑이야.
나를 위한 사랑도 사랑이야.

I will not call it spring
Just because I fear the cold.

Letting go can still be loving.
Loving me should still count too.

[Translation: I will not keep pretending it is spring when it is not. Letting go is also love. Love for myself is love too.]

[Release - bass and dry percussion return, delivery becomes calmer and firmer]

I can thank the shade it gave me
Without living underneath.

I can miss the way it flowered
Without watering dead leaves.

There is no prize for breaking
Just to prove how far I bend.

There is no shame in noticing
Something reached its natural end.

Maybe grief is not a reason
To return to what has gone.

Maybe love is also knowing
When to stop carrying it on.

[Final Falling Refrain - firmer vocal and restrained harmonies, no oversized lift]

I stopped watering wilted leaves.
Stopped calling suffering loyalty.
Some things do not need more time.

Some things need
To be released.

시든 잎을 놓아줄게.
다시 피지 않아도 돼.

I can let the season finish.
It does not have to bloom again.

I did not fail to love enough.
I only learned what love cannot be.

You cannot save a dying season
By pretending it is spring.

[Last Leaf - plucked strings, muted piano, natural lead]

The window is still open.

One last leaf
Falls quietly.

I do not reach
To put it back.

I let the autumn
Come to me.

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[Global Vocal Rule: Every vocal sound must contain clearly intelligible written lyrics. Backing vocals may repeat exact English or Korean lyric phrases only. No humming, wordless syllables, sighs, or non-lyrical transitions.] [First Frost - delicate plucked strings and muted piano, low vocal enters immediately] I left the window open Long after summer changed. Told myself the colder air Was only passing through again. I moved us toward the sunlight. I gave us everything I knew. But nothing grows forever Just because you want it to. [Verse 1 - warm sub-bass and dry drums settle into a steady groove] I kept watering wilted leaves, Turning brown sides toward the light. Changing soil and changing reasons, Trying everything but goodbye. Maybe it was love. Maybe friendship. Maybe some imagined life. Maybe I was keeping something That had already said goodnight. I thought patience made me faithful. I thought leaving made me cruel. So I stayed beyond the ending Like endurance was the rule. [Falling Refrain - smooth bilingual chorus, firm but restrained] I kept watering wilted leaves, Calling patience what was killing me. Some things do not need more love. Some things need to be released. 시든 잎에 물을 주며 끝난 계절을 붙잡았어. You cannot save a dying season By pretending it is spring. [Verse 2 - sharper rhythm, plucked strings become more active] I blamed myself for every silence, Every distance I could feel. Thought if I became more careful, I could make the damage heal. But hope cannot command the roots. Love cannot order green to grow. Sometimes holding on is only Being terrified to let go. Not everything ends in anger. Not every goodbye proves love was wrong. Some things simply reach their winter Even when the roots were strong. I did not waste the care I gave. I did not fail because it ends. Something can be real and beautiful Without becoming permanent. [Korean Turn - drums narrow, muted piano and low cello] 봄이 아닌데 봄인 척 더는 하지 않을 거야. 놓아주는 것도 사랑이야. 나를 위한 사랑도 사랑이야. I will not call it spring Just because I fear the cold. Letting go can still be loving. Loving me should still count too. [Translation: I will not keep pretending it is spring when it is not. Letting go is also love. Love for myself is love too.] [Release - bass and dry percussion return, delivery becomes calmer and firmer] I can thank the shade it gave me Without living underneath. I can miss the way it flowered Without watering dead leaves. There is no prize for breaking Just to prove how far I bend. There is no shame in noticing Something reached its natural end. Maybe grief is not a reason To return to what has gone. Maybe love is also knowing When to stop carrying it on. [Final Falling Refrain - firmer vocal and restrained harmonies, no oversized lift] I stopped watering wilted leaves. Stopped calling suffering loyalty. Some things do not need more time. Some things need To be released. 시든 잎을 놓아줄게. 다시 피지 않아도 돼. I can let the season finish. It does not have to bloom again. I did not fail to love enough. I only learned what love cannot be. You cannot save a dying season By pretending it is spring. [Last Leaf - plucked strings, muted piano, natural lead] The window is still open. One last leaf Falls quietly. I do not reach To put it back. I let the autumn Come to me.

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