Hello CK, This seems to be a good topic for a song, and right off the bat the last line of the first verse, struck me, ( the girl who got away ).  For what ever reason that line seems to stand out and might be a better hook than " girl from yesterday".  I don't know if you have already tried that, but if you haven't, you might give it a go.  Good luck and best wishes,

Speak soon

Ah ha, here's what I'm thinking,

Chr.
She comes to visit but never stays,
the girl who got away.
Her memory seems haunt me,
the girl who got away.

Just a thought,

Speak soon

PC
I catch a glimpse now and then,
of her familiar smile.
I see her then she fades away,
and I'm happy for a while.

Too sappy???

I was worried The girl that got away has been used too many times but i do like it better myself. I'll look at it all again a bit later this morning.

Amended version.

Girl from Yesterday

Verse

I’ve been chasing shadows

 Looking for ghosts

Mirages I watch fade.

I’ve been searching faces

Hoping I’d find

The girl who got away.

Pre chorus

I catch a glimpse now and then

Of her familiar smile.

I see her then she fades away.

I’m happy for awhile.

Chorus

She comes to visit but never stays

The girl who got away.

I try but I can’t forget about

The girl who got away.

Verse

I’ve been having trouble

Finding myself.

Forgetting how things were.

I’ve been going crazy trying to find

Another girl like her.

Pre chorus

I catch a glimpse once in awhile

Of her familiar smile.

I see her then she fades away.

The sun’s last glorious rays.

Chorus

She comes to visit but never stays

The girl from yesterday.

Girl from yesterday.

Bridge

I doubt that I’ll ever forget her.

Never love someone else that way.

The girl from Yesterday.