Pop ballad with mid-tempo pulse, gently swung drums and warm piano arpeggios; verse stays intimate and close-mic with sparse bass, pre-chorus adds rising strings and breathy doubles, chorus opens wider with layered harmonies and a short repeatable hook. Use soft delay throws on the last word of lines, a reversed swell into each chorus, and a subtle handclap lift on the second half of the hook. Bright, polished, emotional mix with a clean low end and glossy top.