You held me close Fingers crossed behind my back Said the world outside was fiction While you mapped out every track Called it protection Velvet on the cage Painted it like destiny Slowly drew the curtain Said this was meant to be Low light Steady voice No air in my chest Here it comes again It wasn't love It was control A perfect script I didn't know You pulled the strings I played the role Standing ovations for a ghost It wasn't love It was design You stole the truth and fed me lines Center stage But never mine You smiled and called it paradise Crumbs served on golden plates Marketed as my rise I almost believed your mercy Almost bought your lies You built a plastic kingdom Placed a hollow crown Spotlight burned right through me While you watched me drown Changed the mask Rewrote the scene But nothing ever changed I was bleeding for the crowd While you arranged the pain It wasn't love It was control A perfect script I didn't know You pulled the strings I played the role Standing ovations for a ghost Somewhere I learned applause Before I learned to choose Clapping for my silence Too afraid to move The cage had no bars Just glitter and distraction You named it freedom It was staged interaction I followed every signal Became your reflection Cut the wires Hear them fall No more echo No more call Your empire was paper thin And now I see through everything It wasn't love It was control Now I reclaim the role Tear the script Escape the mold This is where I take my soul No more lines No disguise No more God behind your eyes I see the ropes Inside my hands Rip your script I choose where I stand The curtain rises You never owned me When the light hit my face I walked away Close the velvet curtain