[Intro] The credits keep moving I haven’t moved The room went dark hours ago I didn’t notice No No, no— [Verse 1] There’s a letter on the table With everybody’s name Every door I wasn’t welcomed through Every mouth that carried blame I wrote down what they took from me So someone might understand Now the television’s asking Why that paper’s in my hand Thirteen voices from a cassette One girl speaking much too late Oh God— Did I just make my own tapes? [Chorus] Why does she have to disappear Before you let her finish? Why does silence make her honest When her living voice was difficult? Why does everybody listen Once she cannot answer back? Turn her pain into a lesson When they called it drama while it happened I’m still here I’m still here to answer Please don’t make me vanish Before you hear me [Verse 2] I recognize the hallway The photograph, the borrowed lie The little pieces passed between them Till a person can’t survive I recognize the questions That already chose their side Why did she go? Why did she stay? Why didn’t she put up a fight? I recognize the smiling When your body knows the cost How a girl can look agreeable While trying not to get more lost I know what it is to hear your name Belong to everyone but you I know— I know— [Chorus] Why does she have to disappear Before you call it damage? Why is dying treated seriously When living hurt is called dramatic? Why does everybody gather When the ending can’t be changed? Bring flowers to the silence They could not give a chair when she had words to say I’m still here I’m still here to answer Please don’t make me vanish Before you hear me [Bridge] Turn it off Turn it off I can still hear the cassette turning I can still see every person Discovering what they could have asked Every door opening backward Every kindness coming last And I’m angry— I’m so fucking angry— Not because our lives are equal Not because I know her pain Because people love a woman’s truth When it arrives too late to change them Because remorse looks almost holy When nobody must repair Because everyone says, “If only” When she is no longer there [Break] I don’t want to be your warning I don’t want to haunt your halls I don’t want my absence teaching you What my presence couldn’t solve I don’t want thirteen reasons I want one honest conversation While my lungs still fill While my hands still shake While I can hear your answer [Final Chorus] I will not have to disappear Before I get to finish I will not turn my living body Into proof that I was injured You don’t have to call me blameless You don’t have to take my side Just don’t wait until I’m silent To decide my voice was right I’m still here I’m still here to answer The letter is not an ending It is evidence I stayed [Outro] The credits stop moving Morning reaches through the blinds I fold the letter Keep my name And press eject This time
