Remember, I told you

Shattered

By the time the diner closed, it was dark outside. The sky was a blanket of midnight blue with stars sprinkled about it. The cool breeze enveloped me as I pushed open the door and waved goodbye to Cas and Mo. I had changed out of my uniform into a sweatshirt, baggy boyfriend jeans, and a beanie, but the crisp air still caused me to shiver. I hurried to my car and warmed the engine, impatiently waiting for the rusty heater to boot up.

Along with the diner, I had a second job. As great as it was working with Cas and Mo, it didn't pay enough to make rent, so I picked up a job at an old friend's coffee bar. Eddie Mason owned the joint. He bought it from a retired artist who originally used the place as a studio and transformed it into a bar style, coffee shop. Eddie was a hipster, with his saggy jeans, grungy band T-shirts, and slouchy beanies and his place really embodied that. A little on the emo side, he named the place Artist's Prison. Ironically, the place has been my safe haven.

The place opened about a year ago, and since the opening, Eddie had been trying to get me to perform during the nights. I used to repeat, "No, maybe some other time." I was depressed, and in a dark place, and I didn't feel like I deserved the happiness music brought me. 

But after allowing self-pity to consume me, I soon realized, that without another good-paying job, I would be on the streets, so a few months ago, I asked Eddie if the offer was still open, and now, here I am, lugging my guitar into the entrance of Artist's Prison.

Performing here was interesting. The audience was small and the music was mostly for the purposes of a hipster/indie ambiance. Sure I got small cheers and applause, but it was nothing like the big stages I used to perform on years ago. I could disappear and be replaced by a rusty jukebox and no one would really notice, but nonetheless, I enjoyed it. Here, it was just me and my guitar, my music was unnoticed like I was within the walls of my bedroom...

"Hey Ro, how are you doing?" Eddie questioned as he heard the jingle of the front door.

"You won't believe what happened today," I exclaimed. I proceeded to explain Cas signing me up for the bonfire and then the emotional fallout, and then what I finally decided. All the while, Eddie nodded along, but I noticed he didn't seem too surprised.

"...But I decided I needed to do this...wait, you knew all along didn't you? Why didn't you say anything?" I asked.

"I knew you needed to come out of your shell and perform at the bonfire, but I wanted you to want it. And from what I am hearing, you clearly do," Eddie said.

"I don't know-" I started

"Why do you think, I begged you to perform here?" he questioned but went on, not letting me answer, "Music is in you, you need and it needs you."

"I guess you're right, but damn you're a sneaky devil." I teased, distracting myself from his words.

"Yes, and yes. You're already late, go get singing, or I am taking your tips," he snickered.