Description
From Chapter 36, “Independence,” of It’s Impossible by J H McIntosh — Act II: Soul to Soul.
"I stay free, I don’t belong, I’ve learned to stand alone this long, [that's what keeps me safe]," is Belle reasserting the independence that's worked for her so far. Free offers a quiet strength that resonates deeply with anyone who’s learned to protect their heart by standing alone. It gently unfolds the complexity of freedom as both a shield and a choice, revealing the courage it takes to keep control when love feels like a risk. Listening invites you to embrace a moment of honest reflection, where safety lies in solitude and peace is found not in connection, but in the steady, unwavering hold on oneself.
Lyrics
I learned early how to stand alone
How to keep what’s mine as mine alone
I wear my silence like a shield
I trust the scars that never healed
I count the exits, read the room
I keep my power by assuming doom
I stay free, that’s how I survive
I stay free, I keep control alive
No promises, no strings on me
I stay free, that’s how I breathe
I stay free, I don’t belong
I’ve learned to stand alone this long
They see the surface, call it grace
They never ask what’s underneath my face
Attention comes, it always does
It costs too much to call it love
I stay free, I don’t lean in
I stay free, I don’t let it begin
No open doors, no guarantees
I stay free, that’s my safety
I stay free, I don’t depend
That’s how broken stories end
He talks like giving isn’t weight
Like love won’t bend me, won’t dictate
But every gift has hidden ties
And freedom dies the day you rely
If I believe you’ll always stay
That’s when the ground gives way
So I keep my footing on my fear
It’s safer knowing no one’s near
I stay free, not owned, not bound
I stay free, feet on solid ground
If peace costs more than I can be
I’ll choose the ache, I’ll stay free
Maybe someday I’ll risk the fall
But not tonight, not now, not all
For now, this is the only way
I stay free, and I walk away
If I stay free, I don’t fall
If I don’t fall, I feel nothing at all
