It deals with the internal conflict of remembering a relationship fondly while recognizing its toxicity.
Some listeners interpret the track as a meditation on permanent loss or the death of a loved one, given the fragility and haunting nature of the lyrics. Critical Reception
E•MO•TION: Side B (a collection of unreleased tracks from the Emotion recording sessions). Songwriters: Carly Rae Jepsen and Ryan Stewart. Producers: Ryan Stewart and Kyle Shearer. Genre: Synth-pop, power pop, and ambient-pop. Song Meaning and Themes
The lyrics use garden imagery, where a once-vibrant love "fades to black" as the relationship dies.