It was a good show.

The sky was turning black as night set in and the area became cooler. When we played our last song, sadness settled over me because I knew we’d be leaving the East Coast in two days and I’d once again be thousands of miles away from wherever Patience was.

I scanned the crowd once more as I played my final solo for the night and I was caught off guard by a flash of platinum hair. One minute it was there and the next it was gone. I was positive I was seeing things when suddenly the crowd cleared once again and my eyes collided with Patience.

She stared back at me with wide eyes and an aggravated look on her face. She looked different, thicker in some places and tanner, but she was just as beautiful as the last time I saw her. I continued to play as I watched her struggle to get to the front and then finally she gave up and stared at me. From so far away I couldn’t see her eyes, just as I’m sure she couldn’t see mine, but my heart felt her presence and it took everything I had in me to stay put on that stage.

I lost her in the crowd and wasn’t able to locate her blond hair again. Once we were off the stage, I attempted to go through the crowd and try to find her, but I could barely move it was so packed, and I kept getting stopped by drunk girls who kept trying to rub their tits on me.

We followed the crowd to the buses and I was on the verge of losing it. She was so close. She was there and I couldn’t see her or get to her. I was almost in the bus when I saw her cutting a path through the parking lot. I put my head down and slipped through the crowd and hid in the darkness between our bus and the one in front of it.

Once I saw her walk past, my soul sang with joy. I reached out and pulled her to me. I didn’t want her to scream and call attention to us, so I covered her mouth with my palm. I could hardly believe she was here in my arms, and I vowed that no matter what happened over the last months, she’d never leave my arms again.

Years of shadows and darkness were erased in that very moment. I held my source of freedom in my arms and I could already feel the heat from her light against my skin.

Her breath was heavy as she struggled against me, but once she realized it was me and she wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me back, I knew things would never be bad again.

Epilogue

I watched with a smile as Blow Hole was interviewed by the DJ of a local radio station.

“So, Zeke, we get a lot of questions in about some of your tattoos. I was wondering if you could tell us what the three snowflakes on your forearm represent.”

Zeke grinned over at me and lifted his arm onto the counter in front of him to show the DJ his tat.

“The big one here is for my girl. When we first started dating she reminded me of a snowflake princess, so I started calling her snowflake. I still call her that now. The two smaller ones are for our two daughters. They’re just a blond and beautiful as she is.”

“Snowflake, huh?” the DJ asked. “It’s a wonder she doesn’t melt in this California heat.” He laughed.

Zeke’s eyes met mine from across the room and the love that lived there sparked. The side of his mouth tilted up in a knowing smile.

“Well, we went through the depths of hell to be together. If she hasn’t melted yet, I don’t think she ever will.”