Aria hops onto the low stage at her side, the one vacated by the band and turns on the microphone. A horrendous feedback echoes around the hard surfaces of the concrete and chrome brewery, and like a choreographed dance, hands cover ears, and groans escape the crowd.
Oops.
Aria pulls in a breath, sidestepping the impulse to be deterred, and taps on her mic. When a muffled thud sounds back, she speaks into it.
“Hi, everyone!”
The crowd turns to her, and up on the second level, Griffin and his assistant wear quizzical looks. He runs a hand through his hair.
“Some of you may already know me. My name is Aria Wilder, and I’m a friend and fan of Griffin Hayes. I’m here today to support his brand-new foundation that we’re all so excited about. In addition to writing a check before I leave today, I came with a new song.”
Excited murmurs slink around the clusters of guests, the offensive microphone feedback forgotten.
“I performed this song for the first time recently here at the music festival in Roxbury Park, and a few videos made it to the internet. Something I know a little about.”
The crowd laughs.
“I haven’t spoken publicly about this song yet because it’s the most personal thing I have ever written. It might not be that surprising to hear, but growing up inside the music business means that for a long time, other people are deciding your career—the persona you go onstage with, the type ofmusic you make, even the clothes you wear. For a long time I have been wanting to try something new with my music, but only once I got to know Griffin Hayes did I finally gain the courage to do so.”
The crowd is quiet, and Aria looks up to the second level where Griffin leans over the railing.
“This song is for you, Griffin Hayes.”
By the grace of God, an acoustic guitar has been left behind by one of the band members on break, so she won’t have to sing a cappella. Aria takes the guitar, then dives right into the song.
“Until you came along,
I was living in slow motion.
Playing pop star like they wanted,
For them and their devotion.
But in the dark of night,
I tossed and turned, all wrong.
It started to make sense,
Only as you came along.
In trying to be perfect,
All I did was make me small.
You told me, more than once,
Go ahead and give your all.
Things started to go right,
Me letting go and staying true.
But then you left me in the dark,
And now I know something new.
It wasn’t just the music,
