Change Is Coming || Eddie Munson

The Deeper the Love

This chapter features one of the best metal love songs ever written. (Right behind In Love by Grave, which is so good but definitely doesn't fit the mood) The Deeper the Love by Whitesnake. I highly recommend listening to the acoustic version while reading this chapter. It fits the situation perfectly.  🤠

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My stomach churned, mouth extremely dry, breathing deeply and letting my stomach rise and fall with each breath. I've never been so nervous to perform, there's so many things that could go horribly wrong. I'm either walking out of here with a girlfriend, or with a black eye and restraining order. Maybe something in between those two extremes as well.

A shrill noise twinged my ear, like someone whistling. Soon after a muffled yell floated to the green room followed by an absolutely mind scrambling bell clanging over and over again. I could feel the ground beneath me vibrate with the footsteps of the bar goers making their way through the crowd to last call.

Danny had told me that this would be my cue, that I wouldn't miss it, that the loudness and hive mind movement would be the perfect cover to sneak up on stage, he was right. She was distracted, standing on the counter top and looking behind her before hopping down in the most graceful fashion. Her body hidden behind the burly man dressed as the Hamburgler in the middle of the sweaty pit of people.

Not a single person questioned me, or even looked in my direction as I climbed up and sat on the barstool on stage. My nervousness washing away when the familiarity of the environment settled in. It felt so good to be back, a swift sweep down memory lane paraded me through all of Corroded Coffins gigs played to the whole handful of patrons at first. We graduated to a half full bar by the time I was kidnapped and shipped off.

I shook myself out of my stupor, remembering my purpose for being here. Placing Wayne's acoustic guitar on my lap, bringing the strap up and over my head, resting it on my leg as I moved my shoulders relaxing them while my neck followed. I don't know why, but it always felt right to do so, there's no real reason. I guess it just makes me feel prepared, and I needed to be extra prepared tonight. So I went the extra mile and let my ankles droop, swinging my legs like spaghetti noodles.

I accidentally kicked the one box light attached to the teeny tiny platform. Of course I did, and naturally a group of people turned their heads to investigate the noise. I saw a girl nudge who was presumably her boyfriend, his drunken state allowed his voice to boom when he asked, "Who's that?"

Her.
Her head popped up. Looking at me, I'm not sure that she recognized me at first between the costume and the fog machines accompanied by the ever moving group of people. She waved her hand above her head, the beginning of a yell fell from her mouth.

"Hey! You-" she paused, pushing herself up with her arms to get a better look. Her eyes widened and her mouth moved, the same way it did when she silently mouthed my name in bed. I smiled, soft and gentle as she recognized me, giving a small waggle of my fingers in her direction.

The most puzzled expression on her face she shushed the crowd directly in front of the bar and pushed herself up farther. Standing on the counter top once more, slipping on the wet surface before catching her footing. I couldn't see it, but I could feel the blood rush to her cheeks with embarrassment. Knowing the entire bar was looking at her.

There was no microphone, the cover band had brought all their own equipment, and my microphone was still at the garage. As much as I wanted to sing quieter than a mouse, for her to hear me it needed to be sung with my full chest. I started off slowly, the first couple chords filling the room that was becoming as still as the night outside. The air suddenly felt stale and sticky in my throat as I parted my lips.

"When I look back, on everything I've done
I know you must have cried river of tears,"

Despite the feeling in my throat, my voice carried well, smoother than it had all those nights I'd practiced.

"But, you were there
When I was feeling low
To walk me through my darkest fears"

The throng of people was completely silent, no movement amongst them as they all stared back and forth between me and the angelic being who stood so firmly, so confidently above everyone else.

"So when the sun goes down
An' those nights grow colder,
I will be there
Looking over your shoulder"

I couldn't help but let a smirk shine through when the man to my left tried to start swaying with his girl and she elbowed him in the stomach, whispering "Jason this is so not the time."

"An' the deeper the love
The stronger the emotion,
An' the stronger the love
The deeper the devotion"

Holding the end of each line and letting it flow out with a natural end. The sound came fluently as though I had spent every hour of my life up till now singing this song. I stood up to exit the stage during the next few lines.

"There were times
I almost let you go
When I thought I needed to break free,
But you were there
To whisper in my ear
Why don't you share my dreams with me"

The crowd parted down the middle as though I was the Moses of music. Her face was unreadable, her heart beat gave her away, beating faster as I approached.

"So when the sun goes down
An those nights are growing colder
I will be there
Looking over your shoulder
An' the deeper the love
The stronger the emotion,
An' the stronger the love
The deeper the devotion"

I stood at her feet, staring up at her in complete adoration, the blush on her cheeks spread out farther.

"I don't mind, what you're doing to me,
I don't mind, 'cause you're all I can see
I don't mind, baby, you mean the world to me
When the sun goes down
An' those nights are growing colder,
I will be there
Looking over your shoulder, baby, baby, baby"

I outstretched my arm, reaching up to her, desperately hoping she would hop down and join me on the floor. She obliged and took my hand, struggling to find her way down I grabbed her by the waste and lowered her to the floor. I sunk to the floor on one knee, resting the guitar on the other. Feeling a surge of confidence when looking up at her face, the tears in her eyes barely contained themselves. I belted out the next lyrics.

"So When the sun goes down
An' those nights are growing colder,
I will be there
Looking over your shoulder
'Cause the deeper the love
The stronger the emotion,
An' the stronger the love
The deeper the devotion
the deeper the love
The stronger the emotion,
An' the stronger the love
The deeper, the deeper, the deeper the devotion"

Quietly, I stood again, the strumming stopped as I got the sudden urge to hold her closely for this last part. I felt as though only she needed to hear it. I tossed my guitar over my shoulder, the strap keeping it from crashing to the ground as I bear hugged her.

"I never gonna let you go,
In my heart, I know
I love you, I love you
Oh baby, I really love you"

Whisper singing in the sweetest way I could muster in her ear. Her body shook under my arms and despite being surrounded by an eruption of applause I felt as though it were only us. I cradled her head against my chest, my own silent tears now falling atop her soft curls.

Her voice sounded so small, so meek and mild as she whispered back to me. "I love you."

I think I can die happy now.