[INTRO — warm dusty soul sample / Rhodes / vinyl crackle] MAN: It’s been quiet lately. DARK: We’re still here. I know. BROKEN: You don’t hear me crying as much? No. NEW: You know what that means? Yeah… I think I’m healing. [DRUMS DROP — HEAVY BOOM-BAP] [VERSE 1] I woke up this morning, something felt strange, Same room, same life—but something had changed, Usually my first thought is everything that could go wrong, Today I made some coffee… And just carried on. Didn’t scan for disaster. Didn’t argue with my head. Didn’t replay conversations from three fucking years ago in bed. And halfway through the morning I stopped myself like— Wait. Where’s the fear? DARK: I’m right here. I know. But you’re quieter. DARK: Don’t get comfortable. See? That’s the difference. Before, you said that— and I listened. [HOOK — chopped soul vocal] I think I’m healing… Didn’t notice when it started. Maybe healing isn’t fixing every place that life left scarred. Maybe healing’s when the memory still hurts— but doesn’t lead. Maybe peace ain’t forgetting. Maybe peace is finally being free. [VERSE 2 — BROKEN VOICE] BROKEN: You remember me? Always. You used to hate me. Yeah. I thought you made me weak. What changed? I finally realized you were never weakness. You were grief. You were every goodbye I never gave myself permission to mourn. Every time somebody asked, “You good?” And I said— “Of course.” You were the tears behind that answer. BROKEN: So what happens to me now? Nothing. You stay. BROKEN: You don’t want me gone? No. You taught me something. BROKEN: What? A man can hurt… and still be a man. [DRUMS CUT — SOUL VOCAL BREATHES] [VERSE 3 — NEW VOICE] NEW: Remember when you said you wanted to become somebody new? Yeah. NEW: Look around. MAN: Damn. I kept waiting for some moment— some dramatic fucking sign, Like healing had a finish line I’d cross at some specific time. But maybe it was happening in decisions that were small: Going somewhere even scared. Answering that call. Setting boundaries without explaining every reason why. Missing somebody that I lost without asking God why they died. Looking at an old photograph and smiling before I cried. Being alone with my thoughts without needing somewhere to hide. Damn… Maybe you were right. NEW: About what? Maybe becoming somebody new doesn’t feel new while it’s happening. [BEAT FLIPS — WARMER SAMPLE, HARDER DRUMS] [VERSE 4] I used to think that healing meant returning who I was. Before the grief. Before the fear. Before everything because— I kept treating my old self like some destination I could reach, Until I finally understood: That man had nothing left to teach. He got me here. Respect. But I’m different now. Got scars he never carried. Got a different way of thinking now. I know people can disappear. Know tomorrow isn’t owed. Know being strong ain’t carrying every fucking thing alone. And strangely— Knowing life’s uncertain doesn’t scare me like before. It makes me appreciate the people still walking through my door. [FINAL HOOK — FULL SOUL SAMPLE] I think I’m healing… Not because the pain is gone. I’m healing ’cause it visits and I don’t have to follow along. I can remember without drowning. I can hurt without defeat. I can hear that frightened voice inside and still choose where my feet lead. I think I’m healing… Yeah. Maybe finally. Not becoming who I was— Becoming who I’m supposed to be. [OUTRO — ONLY RHODES / VINYL] DARK: What happens to me? You protect me when I actually need you. Not every damn day. BROKEN: And me? You remind me that I can feel. NEW: And me? … You’re not the new voice anymore. NEW: What am I? MAN: Me. [LONG SILENCE] DARK: Damn. BROKEN laughs quietly. [VINYL FADES]
