The Night I Stayed

You came back in black for your father’s wake

Wearing grief like a coat you didn’t want to take

We met up at Lily’s, like the old days, all of us

Drinking cheap beer, laughing too much

And your eyes caught mine in that familiar way

Like time hadn’t touched us, just slipped away

The porch light was low when they all said goodbye

You asked if I’d stay, and I didn’t ask why

'Cause your voice was cracked

And your hands were cold

And I forgot how good it felt

To be the one you’d hold

But I shouldn’t have stayed, shouldn’t have kissed you

Shouldn’t have let my heart pretend it missed you

There’s a girl who’s waiting back at your place

And I wore her pain on my guilty face

It was comfort, it was reckless

It was wrong, but it was real

And I’d undo that night if I could

But I remember how it made me feel

Your hoodie smelled like smoke and fall

And the silence was louder than us all

You said, “God, this town still holds my ghost”

I said, “Yeah, but it lets you go the most”

We laid on your childhood twin-size bed

Two strangers in the skins we shed

And I knew before our lips had met

That I’d carry this night like a quiet regret

'Cause you weren’t mine

And I wasn’t yours

We were just old habits

With unlocked doors

But I shouldn’t have stayed, shouldn’t have kissed you

Shouldn’t have let my heart pretend it missed you

There’s a girl who’s loving who you became

And I played with fire in her name

It was comfort, it was selfish

It was fleeting, but it’s true

And I wish I hadn’t said yes

But God, I always do

You touched my hand like it still belonged

Like we weren’t breaking something all along

And I wanted to believe it meant something deep

But love doesn’t cheat—love doesn’t creep

I shouldn’t have stayed, bu I couldn’t leave

Even though my heart wore guilt on its sleeve

There’s a girl who trusts you miles away

And I’m the secret you won’t say

It was midnight, it was mourning

It was wrong, but it was ours

And I’ll bury it under the stars—