Tonight I was

supposed to smile

Put on my heels and

walk into the light

But something in me

cracked wide open

Like a letter

I forgot I wrote

I was brushing my

hair in the mirror

And suddenly I saw

my mother’s eyes

The way she looked

at me when I was ten

After I cried

myself to sleep

She didn’t say a word

Just held me like

silence was enough

And I remembered

that feeling

Of being seen

Of being safe

And I couldn’t breathe

I sat on the

edge of the bed

Still in my robe

And whispered:

“I don’t know how to

be strong tonight.”

But the crowd is waiting

And the lights are warm

So I’m telling you this

Before I sing

Because I need

you to know

I’m not always okay

I’ve been holding

it in too long

But it keeps spilling out

Spilling out

Emotions, please

Won’t you let

me breathe?

I’ve got a song to sing

But you’re drowning me

It keeps spilling out

Spilling out

It keeps spilling out

Spilling out

Spilling out