He wakes up choking on a scream But don't wake her, let her dream She don't know what his eyes have seen And he won't let the darkness bleed Coffee shakes inside his hand While the news plays like quicksand Another headline, another day But the blood on his boots never fades away They carry silence like a stone Heavy hearts they call their own No parade, no welcome back Just memories they can't unpack And every laugh, and every smile His armor worn to hide the trial So if they seem a little strange It's just the silence The silence they carry He's seen children not make it home He's held hands while souls moved on He's kicked down doors through smoke and flames But can't forget a single name The radio calls and sirens howl But it's the stillness that breaks him now No one asks what's in those eyes Just you good and you'll be fine Just you good doesn't make sense to me but it's what I hear They carry silence like a stone Heavy hearts they call their own No parade, no welcome back Just memories they can't unpack And every laugh and every smile His armor worn to hide the trial So if they flinch or drift away It's just the silence, the silence they carry You don't see it in the mirror You don't see it in the light Close your eyes, and it's still there Every siren, every fight They carry silence like a stone Wounds too deep for flesh and bone And when the world forgets their pain They walk alone through fire and rain So hold them close and hold them true They're fighting wars they can't undo And if they never say a word Just know it's the silence The silence they carry To the ones who never told their story We heard you anyway