“I am so nervous right now.”  She swallowed hard and tried to put on a brave smile, but she could not pretend, not with me anyway and she knew it.  She dropped her head to look at a particularly interesting spot on the floor.  I reached for her face and lifted her head up by her chin and caressed her cheek with my thumb, passing it over her bottom lip before I leaned in for a kiss.  I believe with that simple gesture I was able to take away all her fears, because I saw her nerves calm and relief wash over her.  I told her I should go find a good table as I stole one more touch of her soft skin. 

            “Spence!” I turn around to see her walking towards me, “Thanks for being here with me tonight.”

            “Thanks for wanting me here……I love you…….I will see you after the show…..Good luck!”  With that I headed out of the room and to the front of the jam packed club. I laughed. I had actually thought I would get a table.  I was getting butterflies just thinking about her performing; I could not even imagine what she was feeling.  The main lights shut off and the spotlight illuminated the stage, drowning Ashley in a sea of white light as she began to speak.

            “I want to dedicate this night to the love of my life.  It’s been four years and I don’t know what I would be without you…..Happy Anniversary baby….I love you!”

            I cried.  She sang her heart out that night and she did it for me.  She was a smash.  That was the tipping point in her career.  She had been struggling to break into the music business and after that night she had offers lining up.  I could not have been happier for her. 

~

            There she was staring back at me from the cover of her first album, displayed proudly in the store window.  It was like fate had drawn me to that window yesterday.  I don’t know why I crossed the street; I usually don’t.  I don’t know why I had stopped in front of that store to fish a small rock out of my shoe that had been bothering me for the previous eight blocks.  But when I put my hand on that window to maintain balance, I saw her unmistakably beautiful face on a poster announcing yesterday’s release of her new CD. 

            I walk past that store again, but on purpose today, just to see her.  I wonder to myself if I should listen to her CD.  What if the whole album is about the time we shared together, or worse yet; what if it is not?  I am not sure what I want the album to be, but I know my curiosity will eventually get the best of me anyway. So I pop into the store and buy a copy without looking at it, stuff it into my bag and continue my trek to work.