Every Goodbye

You look at me like you’ve just arrived
But we’ve been here for all your life
Your hands still warm, your smile still kind
But I can’t find you in your eyes
You ask my name like it’s brand new
Then call me “Mom” or call me “you”
I nod and smile, and play along
But I’m not sure how I stay strong

You’re still here – but you’re not
I hold your face, but time forgot
And every day, I lose a part
Of you, of me, of both our hearts
You’re still here – and so am I
Trying not to break, not to cry
They don’t see us, not at all
But I still catch you when you fall
You’re still here

Every goodbye takes a little of me
A silent crack no one can see
I give you love, I give you time
But no one asks what’s left of mine

The days are long, the nights go thin
I tuck you in, then break within
The papers pile, the silence grows
The system’s cold, and no one knows
I fight through hours they won’t see
For dignity that slips from me
For one more day inside your room
Before they push you toward some tomb

You’re still here – but you’re not
I hold your face, but time forgot
And every day, I lose a part
Of you, of me, of both our hearts
You’re still here – and so am I
Trying not to break, not to cry
They don’t see us, not at all
But I still catch you when you fall
You’re still here

Every goodbye takes a little of me
A silent crack no one can see
I give you love, I give you time
But no one asks what’s left of mine

I sign the forms, they take no time
To see the faces behind the line
They send me letters, rules and charts
But none of them can hold your heart
I sleep in chairs, forget to eat
I smile through grief I can’t repeat
They call it care, but never stay
And I am left to fade away

You’re still here – but slipping slow
And I stay near, though no one knows
I give you songs, I give you air
And all they do is disappear
You’re still here – and I remain
Not out of strength, but love and pain
When you are gone, they’ll call me brave
But never ask what I still gave
Every goodbye
Every day
Every breath
Every goodbye