Lyric

You said that I could stay there

As if the word was kind

I placed my coat down gently

And kept my weight behind

The room did not reject me

The table did not shake

But every little welcome

Had somewhere it would break

No one asked me to leave

No one made it hard

But I could feel the distance

Sleeping in the yard

I was allowed to stay

But not to rest my life

You gave me room to remain

Not a place to be safe

Permission is not shelter

A door is not a home

I was kept beside the warmth

But never fully shown

I learned the careful corners

Where my hands could disappear

I learned which parts of silence

Would make me useful here

Your kindness never cut me

Your voice was never cold

But I could not unfold there

Without feeling too bold

No one closed the window

No one turned away

But I kept one foot ready

For the end of every day

I was allowed to stay

But not to rest my life

You gave me room to remain

Not a place to be safe

Permission is not shelter

A door is not a home

I was kept beside the warmth

But never fully shown

Maybe this is mercy

When no one calls it love

A little space beside you

But never deep enough

I did not need forever

I did not need a claim

I only needed somewhere

That did not make me tame

I was allowed to stay

But not to rest my life

You gave me room to remain

Not a place to be safe

Permission is not shelter

A door is not a home

I was kept beside the warmth

But never fully known

I am still here in the morning

With my guard beneath my skin

You never had to push me

I was never fully in