You brush their hair, tell them what to think of me

Fold your stories into every goodnight prayer

I see my face in the drawings that they bring

But the eyes look scared, like they're asking what to believe

Are you stealing half my home one soft word at a time?

Turning bedtime into courtroom, every weekend feels like trial

I hold them close, but they look through like I'm fading off the page

I'm still their dad, I'm still right here

But I can feel you pulling me away

You say I left, leave out every time I stayed

Show them shadows of a man you've remade

They ask me once, "Daddy, did you really choose to go?"

I swallow glass, say, "Ask me anything you wanna know"

Are you stealing half my home one soft word at a time?

Turning bedtime into courtroom, every weekend feels like trial

I hold them close, but they look through like I'm fading off the page

I'm still their dad, I'm still right here

But I can feel you pulling me away

Maybe I lose, maybe you win

Maybe they'll grow and see through this

'Til then I write little notes in their bags

"I love you always," hope they read between the gaps

Are you stealing half my home or just renting out their trust?

Will they ever get the full truth or just your anger dressed as love?

I hold them close, they still lean in

But something's slipping when they stay

I'm still their dad, I'm still right here

Praying love outlives the games you play