10 Years for This

[Verse 1 – soft, nostalgic, vulnerable] I used to trace your name in notebooks Hearts around it, stars above Third grade crush turned full obsession Guess I mistook it all for love You smiled once and it stayed with me Ten years of dreaming slow Thought maybe fate was patient Turns out it just didn’t know [Pre-Chorus – building tension] And when you finally said my name Like it was more than just a game I thought the wait was worth the pain But I didn’t see the shame [Chorus – emotionally sharp, honest] Ten years for this? For you to flake, to barely text, to only hang with them? For every plan to fall apart unless your brother tagged in? I gave my heart to someone I thought still saw that kid But you just saw a pity prize And faked the way you said “I’m in” Ten years for this? For you to lie and disappear Then leave me with the mess While holding hands with someone who Should’ve known me best Ten years of almosts, and this is how it ends? Guess some dreams are better left in past tense [Verse 2 – bitter realization, reflective] You said it wasn't working out But never said why you ran I found out through my best friend Not even from your hands And she, with all her broken vows Like dating your twin wasn't enough Thought your cold hands were a good idea While I was still calling it love [Pre-Chorus – more direct, cutting] I was your comfort, not your choice You never heard my voice Too busy laughing with your crew While I was breaking over you [Chorus – repeated with emotional build] Ten years for this? For every ghosted Friday night, pretending you exist For sitting in the silence while you blamed it on a shift I waited for a fairytale — got nothing but a glitch You held my hope, then dropped it quick Ten years for this? For my best friend to take your hand Like she forgot the script Guess loyalty’s a thing that slips When your ego wants a fix Ten years of almosts, and this is how it ends? Guess some hearts just never learned to commit [Bridge – stripped back, soft then sharp] I used to think you were the one Now I think I was just young You grew into someone I don’t know And maybe never really was You said you cared, but now I see It was just guilt wearing a face And she? She knew what you meant to me But took my place anyway [Final Chorus – powerful, emotional peak] Ten years for this? For a story I wrote in ink That you erased with just a kiss For love I held like scripture And you treated like a myth Ten years of hoping — and it ends like this But I’m done giving stars to liars Done mistaking smoke for fire You were never what I missed You were just the boy I wished Ten years for this… But I’ll only give you one more minute. (Silence)