The girl I knew died

You were my first real taste of forever,

Back when forever didn’t seem that far.

We were young, we fought,

we broke each other,

Then somehow found our way back through the dark.

I wasn’t always easy,

Lord, I know it,

There are words and things I wish I could undo.

But every time I thought our story ended,

Somehow I came running back to you.

We said goodbye, then said “I do,”

Built a life from me and you.

I thought after all we’d made it through,

There was nothing we couldn’t do.

You didn’t die,

but the girl I knew did,

Somewhere between forever

And the things we never fixed.

I still see your face,

But I don’t know those eyes.

The woman standing there

Ain’t the first love of my life.

I’m not saying I was innocent,

God knows I had my part,

But you walked away with my best friend And something died inside

my heart. You’re still living somewhere,

But there’s one thing that I know—

The girl I loved died a long time ago.

We filled that house with little voices,

Pictures on the walls

and toys across the floor.

There were bills and fights and tired conversations,

But I still thought we were worth fighting for.

Maybe I missed the signs you were leaving,

Maybe love made some things hard to see.

I could’ve understood you saying you were finished—

Just never thought you’d leave with him from me.

He knew our story,

knew our home,

Knew every scar I’d ever shown.

I lost a wife and lost a friend

In the same goodbye

that night.

You didn’t die,

but the girl I knew did,

Somewhere between forever

And the things we never fixed.

I still see your face,

But I don’t know those eyes.

The woman standing there

Ain’t the first love of my life.

I’m not saying I was innocent,

God knows I had my part,

But you walked away with my best friend And something died inside

my heart. You’re still living somewhere,

But there’s one thing that I know—

The girl I loved died a long time ago.

Sometimes I miss that girl so much

I have to remind myself

she’s gone.

The one who held me when we had nothing,

The one I thought I’d grow old leaning on.

And maybe somewhere you remember him too— That younger man who would’ve

died for you.

We both became somebody different,

But I never thought I’d stop recognizing you.

You didn’t die,

but the girl I knew did,

And I’ve finally stopped pretending

That she’s coming back again.

I’ll carry all the good years,

And I’ll own the wrong I’ve done.

We made some beautiful memories,

We made a family from our love.

So I won’t erase our story

Just because of how it ends.

You were my first love,

my wife,

My lover and my friend.

You’re still living somewhere,

But I’ve finally let you go—

’Cause the girl I loved died a long time ago.

Maybe that’s the hardest kind of goodbye—

When somebody’s still alive.

I can mourn the girl I loved

Without hating who you are.

You didn’t die…

But you died inside my heart.