They light the match, I breathe the smoke.
They cut the rope, I lose my hold.
They make the mess, then disappear.
I’m left to pay for every year.
I’m collateral,
Caught in the middle of it all.
They walk away untouched
While I’m the one absorbing the fall.
Collateral.
I never made the choice at all.
But every time the hammer drops,
I’m underneath it when it falls.
Somebody’s angry, now I’m working late.
Somebody’s careless, now I carry the weight.
Somebody’s pride put a crack in the frame.
Now I’m holding the wall while they’re shifting the blame.
I didn’t start it, but I’m ending the fight.
I didn’t break it, but I’m fixing it right.
Everybody got a reason to run.
Funny how the consequences only find one.
They throw the stone, then hide both hands.
Leave me standing in the wreckage of their plans.
Every bad decision gets attached to my name.
They get the exit, I inherit the flames.
I got a back full of knives I never earned,
A list of bridges I didn’t even burn.
They keep saying that it isn’t that deep.
That’s easy to say when the damage ain’t yours to keep.
They never see the cost.
They only see me cope.
They never feel the fire.
They only watch the smoke.
They light the match, I breathe the smoke.
They cut the rope, I lose my hold.
They make the mess, then disappear.
I’m left to pay for every year.
I’m collateral,
Caught in the middle of it all.
They walk away untouched
While I’m the one absorbing the fall.
Collateral.
I never made the choice at all.
But every time the hammer drops,
I’m underneath it when it falls.
They say, “It’s business,” like that softens the blow.
Like a cleaner word makes the pressure let go.
Like I don’t hear every complaint they avoid.
Like I don’t rebuild everything they destroy.
They pull one thread, now the whole thing tears.
Then hand me the needle like the fault is shared.
No, I know exactly how the pattern repeats.
One person makes war, I’m the one losing sleep.
I’m the buffer, the shield, the acceptable loss.
The name on the bill when they’re counting the cost.
They get to feel powerful, reckless, and loud.
Then I get buried underneath the fallout.
Don’t tell me we all had a part in the pain
When I was never in the room when they started the game.
Don’t call it bad luck. Don’t call it fate.
Call it what it is—I’m the one that you break.
I take the call, take the blame, take the load.
Take the stress while they take the road.
Take the heat, take the hit, take the shift.
Take what’s left when the whole thing splits.
I clean the blood, clean the glass, clean the slate.
Stand in the door while they make their escape.
Every excuse gets a seat at the table,
Except for the truth that I’m barely still stable.
I never signed up, never gave them consent.
Never agreed to absorb what they meant.
Every consequence bends in my direction,
Like pain got my name and a permanent address.
They make a choice, I lose a week.
They say one word, I’m too tired to speak.
They start the fire, then act surprised
When all that’s left is reflected in my eyes.
I’m not your shield.
I’m not your excuse.
I’m not the body
You get to use.
I’m not your silence.
I’m not your blame.
You made the damage.
Remember your name.
You light the match, you breathe the smoke.
You cut the rope, you lose your hold.
You make the mess, you stay right here.
You pay the price, you face the fear.
No more collateral.
No more absorbing every fall.
You don’t get to walk untouched
While I’m left underneath it all.
No more collateral.
I’m stepping out before it falls.
You built the weight above my head.
Now you can stand beneath it all.
You made the choice.
You carry the cost.
I’m done being counted
As an acceptable loss.
No more.
No more collateral.