***
"Thank you all for coming," I spoke into the mic. Hoots, whistles and clapping filled the small room.
The venue was a sit down kind of joint, where people sat at cocktail tables with candle centerpieces, to watch performances. Tiny metal lanterns hung from the ceiling, with cutout designs casting a dim light. Standing room was in the back or off to the side. I heard someone shout out Bobby's name, and cheers from a small group off to the left got Bobby waving. More clapping ensued.
I cleared my throat and looked at Bobby. "I gotta thank this guy. The last time he played with me, I think I may have mowed some of you people down in that audience, when I jumped off the stage and ran out the door…and never came back." Laughs filled the room. "Nah, but on a serious note, thanks for being here. Things are different, and I'm stoked to have you all sharing this moment with me, and to have Bobby playing with me." I gestured to Bobby, on the verge of getting emotional; then my eyes landed on the audience, specifically on Grace.
She was staring at me thoughtfully, with such a reverence that it touched me to my core. I could barely take my eyes off of hers. The silence stirred me. "That's Stoney back there. I'm sure some of you know who he is; he's played with some great bands." He raised his sticks, and clapping and hollers permeated all around. "Thanks, man, for being here for the cause."
I sucked in a breath and continued, "On a business note, all of you that are here should have filled out a Photo Release Form. If you haven't, please raise your hand, and Marty over there will bring you one."
About twenty people raised their hands, and Marty and a few venue staff quickly got the documents signed and collected all of the forms from everyone in the room. "This is going to be a very special evening. Thank you for wanting to be a part of it…some of you will be getting your close-up."
The Hotel Café erupted in applause.
I strummed my girl, and the vibration from her caressed my arm and inched its way through my entire body. The more intensely I stroked her strings, one by one, people began to disappear from the room, until the only two people that were left were Grace and I.
That moment made me fall in love with music all over again; there was no separation from my heart and my hands. The pure bliss of watching Grace enjoy my emotionally raw lyrics from song to song, playing out my love and my pain for Alyssa and Dump, for my mother and Notting, and my taboo time with Sienna. My melodies cascaded over Grace, bringing her to tears.
When I was finished, the crowd's intensity brought me back to the ground. "There's my soul. I just laid it out for all of you."