Caterpillar's Leaf

A single beam of light shines down on the little stage, as a wooden stool awaits its next taker and the small crowd waits in silence. Caterpillar's Leaf, the small cafe in town, has an open mic every Friday night. It's where the best year of my life started. 

It starts with the empty stage and the small crowd sitting on the edge of their chairs waiting in silence for the next talented person to step on stage. I was next up. I slowly made my way up with my old guitar on my back and my hands in my pockets, sweating, nervous. 

I sit on the stool, all eyes on me as I open my guitar case and pull out my guitar, covered in stickers and scratches. She's not that pretty, but she works just fine. I quickly make sure everything is in tune. I clear my throat.

"Hello everybody," I say with a slight wave of my hand, "my name is J and this is a song I wrote one day. It's called 'Even In the Rain'" 

I started the song, letting the words pour out of my mouth and fill the ears of every person in the audience. 

"I would love you, even in the rain." I ended the song. I opened my eyes and looked at the audience as they clapped for me. I walked back out into the crowd and they all patted my back. 

I didn't stick around for everyone elses performances. I got a coffee to go and walked out the door. 

"Wait! J? Wait" I heard her behind me and turned to see her jogging towards me. She was beautiful. I had never seen her before with her dazzling grey eyes and black hair. Out of breath, she started talking," I'm so sorry to keep you from your night probably full of plans but I just had to tell you... i uh, like your shirt?" 

I looked down at my shirt. It had a giraffe and a mouse and said, 'Even the tall, can love the small'.

"Thanks?" I chuckled.

"Oh god, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. Not that your shirt isn't good looking but, what I meant to say was, your music was, wonderful." She smiled nervously and looked at her feet in embarrasement. 

"Thanks..." I paused for her name and she said it was Marigold. " I appreciate the compliment"

"oh it's no problem. Well, I should probably head back to my sister. I left her alone with some guy. See you around"

"Yeah. See you." I smiled and she smiled back and walked off.

I just turned and made my way back to my flat. I sat in the tree out front and played my guitar for a bit and stared at the moon and the constellations. Each star was just as bright as Marigold's eyes.