constant presence, a thick bl

I had told myself

n, and my wife, Sophia Davis,

ant, beautiful

shield she put up for my sake, a way to

life around, a reason for the

space to create, to pour a

of the crowded venue

the sticky wall of the backstage area, a guita

one b

rk, my ol

s the

familiar gravelly soun

s a

o sound more upb

g the

make it work with

ver one to beat

those types are al

al connection, you

augh escap

you wer

r had a

tasted l

d her, defended our stra

ns and herbs Sophia had researched, all

t stronger, more stable, I c

to draft some

plastic pick dig

nal

s voice softe

to Nas

you'll find someone who a

r freez

n though he c

ea

ay

y eyes found Soph

ear the bar, nursi

perfectly composed,

a gallery, something to be admi

rtistic purity, that her gentle rejections of intim

cted world had started t

versation with her

dealer, the kind of guy w

lative, but I tried to ge

ned in, a sly smile on his face, and said

art was already taken

in a joke, but it planted a se

care had always made it

ays so calm

ords replaye

ars, I didn't drink the calming tea

then poured it down the si

eigning sleep,

was almost imperceptible, a so

of deep, supp

od ran

to see her silhouette in the moon

the edge of the b

e held a small,

picture

on his smiling face with an int

f pure, unadult

oft, aching sound that ripped t

am.

harp pain a welcome distraction f

an to stream down my face, h

like it had be

ht, I stopped

eard it

ag

same whispered name, th

red, growing into a desp

a hollow numbness, a gnawing ach

onged torment, I

devoid of emot

't an ic

f her longing, was simply

or the impossible

ar to the custom-made stage costume

flowing, ethereal dress I though

it to her tonight, a g

I felt completely an

e was a joke, and