Stay with you

There's still this thing I carry 

I know we've got to talk about

Why I chose to walk away 

to leave you standing there in doubt

 

A talk we need to have 

about the thing I couldn't do

The way it scared me then 

the thought of me and you

 

And the price they'd make you pay 

if we chose to follow through 

Negate that thing because of me 

a thing I couldn't choose

 

The collar that you strived for 

all those years ago

How you almost lost it once 

before they gave it back to you 

 

To risk the loss of that again 

would always haunt my mind

It hasn't ever left since then 

even through this time 

 

A thing we need to talk about 

as we're moving forward 

To find a way to have this thing 

without you losing yours

 

I do not need a marriage 

to prove our love is real

It's not a thing I need from you 

thats just the way I feel

 

And if you feel the same then 

it's easy to move forward 

But just in case you don't 

I just want for you to know

 

I'll never acquiesce to watch 

you lose that part of you

The thing for you to know 

I won't run away this time

 

I'm in it for the long haul now 

right on down the line

What matters most to me 

is that your collar is intact 

 

And remains a thing that you still have 

the authority to choose

So that when the final word is said

it gets to stay with you