Shadow in My Skin

I ruled every room with a silver tongue and quick hands
Slid through neon nights like no one could make demands
Then he stepped from the crowd with my same crooked grin
Same scar, same hunger burning under my skin

He whispered my secrets in a voice I knew too well
Said I forget he was here first, every lie I tried to sell

He’s the echo in my chest when the music dies out
Cold hand on my shoulder drowning every doubt
I built smoke and gold, he tore the curtains down
Staring down the barrel with the gun turned around

Oh, turned around

He sat at my table when the cards were stacked to win
Flipped the deal, killed the vibe, left me bleeding from within
Every love I chased heard footsteps in the hall
Every door I slammed shut felt his breath against the wall

He’s the echo in my veins when the high starts to fade
The quiet voice that knows every game I ever played
I changed my name, changed my face under different stars
Still woke to find him shaving with my own scars

Oh, with my own scars

I cornered him in the dark where the lights couldn’t reach
Raised the blade and swore one of us had to cease
He laughed with my own laugh, eyes locked on mine
Said you still don’t understand it’s never been just time

He’s the last breath in my lungs when the silence screams loud
The truth I tried to bury wearing my own face now
I pulled the trigger, watched him fall, felt the same blood pour
Realized too late what I killed was the only thing worth fighting for

The only thing worth fighting for
The only thing worth fighting for

©2026 Hugh Mungus