I Stayed Too Long

I kept the door cracked just in case

You ever learned to say my name

I folded every red flag neat

Called it love, called it peace

I laughed it off, said I was fine

Read between your every line

Told my heart, "Just one more try"

While I was running out of time

I kept forgiving things you meant

Explaining words you never said

I lost myself just trying to stay

With someone halfway gone

I stayed too long

In a house that felt like war

I stayed too long

Waiting on you to want me more

I gave my best

You gave me doubts

I should've left

But I stayed it out

I stayed too long

You loved the parts that didn't speak

The quiet girl who wouldn't leave

I learned to need you less each night

Just to survive the morning light

Every promise, paper thin

Every "sorry" late again

I kept believing you'd come back

But I was already cracked

I kept the peace by breaking me

Called it loyalty

I thought love meant holding on

Even when it hurts to breathe

I stayed too long

In a house that felt like war

I stayed too long

Waiting on you to want me more

I gave my best

You gave me doubts

I should've left

But I stayed it out

I stayed too long

If you're listening and blaming you

Thinking you should've known

Sometimes love don't end with goodbye

Sometimes it ends too slow

I stayed too long

But I still found my way out

I stayed too long

But I know myself now

I learned the cost

Of staying quiet and strong

I lost some years

But I got me back

I stayed too long

But I still found my way out

I stayed too long

But I know myself now

I learned the cost

Of staying quiet and strong

I lost some years

But I got me back

I stayed too long

But I won't stay again