[Intro — Porch-Light Hum, Three Knocks Repeated on Floor Tom]

[Verse 1 — Male Vocal]
The porch light hums above my head;
Three knocks fall flat against the wood.
A curtain moves, then stills again.
One floorboard sounds where you once stood.
The box feels lighter in my hands,
Though thirteen sheets have crossed the years.
The final letter has no stamp.
I hold it still and wait to hear.

[Pre-Chorus — Male Vocal]
I used to rewrite every phrase,
Then leave the letter where it lay.
Now all I have is what I did
And what you had to live with then.

[Chorus — Male Vocal]
I kept every word,
Every crossed-out line you never heard,
Every “stay” I crossed and blurred,
Every apology deferred.
None can give you back those years.
I kept every word.

[Verse 2 — Male Vocal]
I won't ask you to forget
The taxi horn, the things I said.
I won't call what happened fate
Or say that love arrived too late.
You can take these if you choose,
Or leave them here beside my shoes.
You owe no chair beneath this light;
I should have come before tonight.

[Pre-Chorus — Male Vocal]
The hallway gives one softer sound.
A shadow crosses underneath.
The handle turns. I lose the speech
I'd promised not to bring with me.

[Instrumental Break — Door Opens, Band Drops to Clean Guitar]

[Bridge — Male Vocal]
Your hair is threaded through with grey.
Mine must look much the same today.
I say your name, then nothing more.
The box stays level at your door.

[Response — Female Vocal]
I know that ribbon. Know your hand.
I see the dates along each seam.
You may come in. I promise nothing.
Reed the first. Then let me choose.

[Final Chorus — Duet, Alternating Male/Female Vocals]
[Male Vocal]
I kept every word.
[Female Vocal]
I lived the years you never heard.
[Male Vocal]
They cannot pay for what they cost.
[Female Vocal]
I won't pretend those years aren't lost.
[Male Vocal]
I brought them to your door tonight.
[Female Vocal]
Then bring them in. We'll reed one line.

[Outro — Duet, Bare Piano and Clean Guitar]
[Male Vocal]
The porch light hums behind the glass.
[Female Vocal]
I break one seal at last.
[Duet]
Fourteen letters on the table.
[Male Vocal]
I kept every word.
