I keep strumming and singing. It’s deathly quiet except for my voice, my guitar and the gentle pluck of my fingers. I keep my eyes tightly closed, letting my music take me under. It’s the most free I’ve felt for as long as I can remember. After strumming the last chord, I stay still, afraid to open my eyes. It’s quiet, not even a sound is made indicating there’s people in the room. Was I that bad? My love for music has only been for me alone, never intended on sharing it with others. Maybe they all left. Suddenly, someone claps, slowly at first, then others join. I crack open one eye, pursing my lips in shock as I see everyone standing. I’m taken aback as their clapping grows louder. Standing, I clear my throat, emotions choking me.
“Thank you,” I barely whisper into the mic.
Stooping down, I gently place my guitar in its case and stand back up, holding onto the handle tightly. “Wow! That was amazing!” Johnny says into the mic as he suddenly appears. He pats my back. “How about we take a short break? Go wet your whistle. Bar’s open!” People walk by saying their congratulations and how much they liked my song. Pride swells as I start to turn, thinking I need a beer pretty badly after that. In the midst of the crowd, across the dance floor as I head toward the bar, stands a girl. Everyone and everything fades away around her. It’s like she’s a beacon in the dim light – glowing. My fingers long to touch her long blonde hair, my hand aches to grasp her long slender neck and touch her skin, which I imagine to be soft and supple. She appears to be caught in a trance, looking into my eyes – hers brown with dark long lashes. Her face is small, round with high cheekbones. She’s – beautiful. She seems familiar but not. That doesn’t make sense but nothing does right now. Suddenly, she blinks, turns and fades into the crowd. I step up on my toes, looking over the heads of everyone, trying to find her. Why would she look at me like that and then leave?
I start to move, wanting – no needing to go find her when a hand pushes against my chest. “Hey, great performance.” I look at Johnny, my heart beating so fast, adrenaline still rushing through my veins but urgency overwhelming me. “I’m thinking maybe we could use you to perform more. Got more songs like that?” Tilting my head in confusion, all I can think of is her. “’Course, you can always sing songs that are already out too. Like cover songs. It’ll be great!”
“I… uh… I have to go.”
I start walking across the floor, looking around the crowd gathered at the bar. “Okay! We’ll talk!” he yells after me.
By the time I managed to get to the bar, I’d looked everywhere for her. She looked petite but I can’t believe she could just disappear. I walk aimlessly around people, drinking my beer and continuing to look for her but she’s nowhere to be found. By midnight, I give up, walking home feeling out of sorts. What is it about her that seemed so familiar? As it’s become my normal routine, I put on some running clothes as soon as I’m home, stretch and start jogging down the beach. I think this is my favorite part of the day, feeling the breeze against my skin, taking in the ocean and breathing the salty air as I let the music and pounding the sand calm me.