Borrowed Breath

**Verse 1 (clean baritone / ambient groove)**

I learned how to whisper just to keep the peace

Learned how to fold so you wouldn’t crease

Every room feels colder when you’re calm

Like you learned my pain but forgot the cause

Low strings dragging my name through dirt

I keep smiling like it doesn’t hurt

You take my truth and call it tone

Then wonder why I sound alone

*(echoing ad-libs)*

— *stay quiet*

— *don’t fight it*

— *breathe in*

**Pre-Chorus (building tension)**

I bent my spine to fit your doubt

Held my tongue till it burned out

You said love shouldn’t feel like chains

Then why am I locked in the same refrain?

**Chorus (wide, heavy, layered harmonies)**

I’m breathing borrowed air

Through lungs you never cared to save

I loved you in good faith

You loved me when it was safe

Now the floor gives way

And I free-fall through your name

You don’t hear my prayer

You just watch me *break*

**Verse 2 (groove-driven, darker)**

Your voice still loops in the back of my head

Every “maybe” sounds like “better dead”

You float above the mess you made

While I mop up feelings you misplaced

Palm-muted rage in my jawline

Counting seconds like landmines

If I’m the villain in your dream

Why does waking up still bleed?

*(ad-libs drifting)*

— *too much*

— *not enough*

— *still me*

**Pre-Chorus 2 (gritty clean → rasp)**

You fed me hope in measured doses

Kept your hands clean while mine were open

If love’s a game, you set the rules

Then blamed me when I played the fool

**Chorus (heavier slam, djent accents)**

I’m breathing borrowed air

Through lungs you never cared to save

I loved you in good faith

You loved me when it was safe

Now the ground caves in

And I free-fall through your name

You don’t hear my prayer

You just watch me *break*

**Bridge (atmospheric pads / delayed guitar)**

Say my name

Without the echo of regret

Say my name

Like I wasn’t a debt

I tried to be gentle

You tried to be right

I tried to be honest

You hid in the light

*(drop to near silence)*

**Breakdown (harsh mid screams / polyrhythmic)**

I GAVE YOU MY BREATH

YOU TOOK IT AND RAN

LEFT ME TO SUFFOCATE

WITH BLOOD ON MY HANDS

THIS ISN’T LOVE

IT’S A SLOW DECAY

YOU CALLED IT HEALING

I CALL IT STAYING AWAY

**Final Chorus (clean lead + scream layers)**

I’m breathing borrowed air

But I’m done asking to survive

I bled you my truth

You let it fossilize

Let it all collapse

Let the old me die

You don’t own my breath

I’m still *alive*

**Outro (clean, cinematic reverb)**

I’ll learn to breathe on my own

No echo, no borrowed tone

If I choke, let it be free

Not under the weight of who you needed me to be