You said my name, the old soft way
The one you used on better days
Just once, then paused, like it slipped out
But I caught more than words allow
You still called me by that name
The one that only you would claim
And though your voice was lined with end
It pulled me back like we could mend
You looked away, I smiled too slow
Still wearing names we used to know
It’s not the name, it’s how it fell
Like something sweet you tried to quell
A habit wrapped in muscle tone
That made me feel a bit less alone