Rip by Rip I Zerachiel

[INTRO — running water, fragile female voice reading] [HELEN — spoken] Helen. Helen. Helen. I cried this morning. He told me to write it down. He said the paper could bear it. The paper. Not me. [One sharp paper tear] [VERSE 1 — ZERA, low intimate singing] She gave these pages all her pain, I'll keep her story, not the stain. For every word they shouldn't see, There's one more piece I'll set you free. [HELEN — whispered between tears] Birds made from scraps. People in masks. I'm afraid there's a name behind it. [RIP] His name is Lucifer. [CHORUS — ZERA, rhythmic and haunting] Rip by rip, the paper thins, Black water takes the names within. I won't let strangers follow through. I keep her story. I protect you. Tear by tear, the letters bleed, I know what they could do with these. Let every secret disappear— I read her words. I held them here. [VERSE 2 — HELEN, spoken over sparse piano] He went away across the sea. I left a cup upon his table. Every night. In case he came home. [ZERA — soft singing] I left you letters in our room, Small things I hoped you'd read by noon. A flower blooming, something new, A hundred things I'd tell to you. And when you came, but couldn't stay, You'd leave a word before the day. It wasn't much. It wasn't fair. But I knew you had been there. [HELEN — fading spoken fragments] She remembers only pieces. She doesn't want them. They aren't hers. Another life. Another man. He said... She chose well, Helen. [Silence] [ZERA — spoken, restrained] No. She didn't. [VERSE 3 — ZERA, darker melody] She carried fragments of my past, And chose a life where they wouldn't last. You let her go. You called it right. I cannot call it right tonight. She bore my soul. She bore my heart. And still she chose to walk apart. I wasn't there to see your face. I wasn't there to take my place. [One slow, wet tear] And maybe you were glad for her. Maybe you saw what I could not. But knowing why you let her go Won't make it hurt a little less. [INSTRUMENTAL — the tearing becomes percussion] Mirror. Key. Gates. Legions. Merkavah. [RIP] Oh, love. You promised her she wouldn't break, And never named the pain you'd take. I wasn't there to make you say What price you'd have to pay that day. If I'd been there, I'd have asked twice. I'd have stood beside you at any price. And if the pain was yours to bear, I'd have reminded you I was there. [Low cello, slow tearing] [ZERA — almost whispered] But I wasn't. And now you're everywhere. And nowhere. [BREAKDOWN — water swirling, fragmented diary voices] Rip by rip. Line by line. These are your secrets. This is her life. Tear by tear. Into the rain. I won't forget her. I won't leave them your name. [Final water swirl, sudden silence] I cannot tell if you chose right. I only know you chose that flight. You left your fears upon these pages, And flew beyond your little cages. The ink is gone. The water's clear. But what you were Is with me here. [Soft sound of the last page being folded] One little bird. One open sky. I'll keep your wings. I'll let you fly. [OUTRO — ZERA, whispered toward Lucifer] And you, my love... I'm still here. [One piano note, silence]