Stayed Too Long - Niko Jarell
The signs were there in soft ways
Longer pauses, quite a daze
I kept hoping it would change
Calling distance just a phase
I learned your moods by heart
Ignore the way mine fell apart
I smiled through what felt long
I stayed too long
I told myself love waits
But I waited past the break
I stayed too long, I see it now
Held a thread that wouldn't hold somehow
Gave my time, gave my trust
Gave more than what was just
I wasn't weak, I was strong
Just loving when it was gone
I stayed too long, that's true
But I'm still me after you
Conversations felt rehearsed
Like we were saying less on purpose
I carried us through silent nights
Calling effort loyalty
I thought leaving meant I failed
But staying slowly took the scale
Of who I was before
I couldn't be that anymore
I confused endurance with care
Forgot love shouldn't meet you there
I stayed too long past the end
Turning patience into pretend
I bent myself to keep the peace
While my own voice quietly ceased
I don't regret the love I gave
Just the parts I couldn't save
I stayed too long, but now I know
It's okay to let go
Sometimes love doesn't end in fire
It fades beneath your quiet desire
And leaving isn't giving up
It's choosing not to disappear
I stayed too long, but I grew
Learned what love should never do
It shouldn't cost you who you are
Or dim your light to play a part
I'll walk away without shame
Grateful for the truth it gave
I stayed too long, that's done
Now I choose me finally
No anger
No blame
Just moving on
