Chapter 18
Now—Ellery
Maria turns and presses her wet cheek to Ellery’s shoulder. “Thank you.”
Ellery steps away from the mic and holds her. Maria’s strong, she won’t break if Ellery squeezes tighter. “I couldn’t do any of this without you,” she says, keeping her voice soft, between them.
“This is good. Your parents would be so proud of you.” Maria squeezes her again and leaves the stage with a wave.
A black hole opens in the midst of Ellery’s stomach, yawning and threatening to suck her down into it.
She’s fought her way out of that hole too many times to count now. She climbs out of it every night she performs. The songs she wrote have left craters behind that outside criticism deepens. It’s too much.
The crowd has gone silent behind her, as if they too, feel like the sun will never rise again.
Dante plays a chord on his bass, the music in the echoing quiet soft and supportive.
She turns and finds him. She is in this moment, not the past. Finally. A gentle smile plays around his lips. Every time she sees him, it’s like the first time. A rapid wave of emotions flowing over her.
She anchors herself in that gaze, in him.
Taking the mic in one hand but knowing he is there, she turns back to the audience.
“Who’s ready for some more music?”