The Silence They Carry

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