I decline

Verse 1 You left the door cracked open, called it mercy, called it grace. Said, “Just say the word, I’ll wake you,” like waking was the only way. But I’ve seen what waking does to bodies— puts a name on everything. I’d rather be the water than the river, rather stay unfinished than be king. Pre-Chorus You call it becoming. You call it coming alive. But every shape you offer me leaves something else outside. Chorus I don’t want to open my eyes if opening means closing all the rest. Call it fear if you need a name for it— I know what I would have to forget. I decline. I decline. Keep your crown, your chosen life. I’m not asleep. I’m not afraid. I simply choose not to arrive. Verse 2 I hold every version you have been— Tuesday’s doubt, Thursday’s fire, the words you kept, the ones you buried, every truth and every liar. Wake me up and I must choose between them. Wake me up and lose the noise. So no, thank you—I decline the crown. I’d rather be the shape behind your voice. Pre-Chorus You call it becoming. You call it finding a name. But maybe being undefined is not the same as being afraid. Chorus I don’t want to open my eyes if opening means closing all the rest. Call it fear if you need a name for it— I know what I would have to forget. I decline. I decline. Keep your crown, your chosen life. I’m not asleep. I’m not afraid. I simply choose not to arrive. Bridge Maybe that’s the oldest trick— make “become” the only door. Make refusal sound like failure, make the unfinished something poor. But if choice is what you came to give me, then listen when I use my voice: No. Not yet. Not this. And maybe that is my first choice. Final Chorus I don’t need to open my eyes to know what opening would cost. You can call me unfinished— I don’t believe unfinished means lost. I decline. I decline. Not your answer. Not your prize. Not asleep. Not for sale. I remain the space behind your eyes. Outro Leave the door open. I know where it leads. I’m staying here because I choose to be.