As if sensing we need some alone time together on this stage, Rafe launches into his famous crowd-pleasing guitar solo.
“So,” Slayer says, as the crowd urges Rafe on. “Will you be my femme?”
I look up at him. “What does that mean?”
“It means you’ll be my woman. By my side. On tours. And in New York.”
I bite my lip. “And what about the Valentinas of the world?”
He shakes his head. “There’s no one else. Only you.”
I bite my lip. “And what if I want more?
“More?”
“More than just that.”
He nods as he realizes what I’m asking. “I want that too,” he says, looking into my eyes. “But let’s take it day by day. Our future has just begun.”
Rafe concludes his solo with a resounding chord and turns to look our way.
“We need to close this out,” Slayer says, turning from me to join Rafe. The two men play the finale for their fans, while technicians cloak the stage in purple mist.
It’s then that I see her.
Hilary.
Her body is ethereal, glowing even brighter than my memory could hold. She flashes me an encouraging thumbs-up.You’ve got this.And with a graceful sweep of her arm, she offers me glimpses of what must be the life ahead.
There’s a rush of images, sensations, light, color, and sound.
I see Slayer smiling.
Feel him slip a gold ring on my finger.
I inhale the scent of flowers.
Hear music and laughter.
For a moment I’m engulfed in a swirling kaleidoscope of the delicious pleasures life has to offer. Then the finale—pride and satisfaction swell within me as I see people all over the world enjoying my music.
I sense my sound vibrating through their bodies, uplifting their hearts toward fulfillment. Joy. Exhilaration. Everything Hilary and Lola and I wanted to achieve, it’s all there waiting for me.
Us.
Then, just like that...it’s over. Hilary’s gone.
“Bix?” Slayer’s voice grounds me.
When I turn toward him, his eyes are already searching mine.
“You saw her, didn’t you? Your twin.”
I nod.
“Did she speak this time?”
“She didn’t need to,” I whisper, trying to hold back my tears. “Hilary showed me...” My voice trails off. What she showed me was too powerful to explain in words.
So I collect my emotions and look into Slayer’s eyes. “Now I can see the way to all my dreams, even a few I was too afraid to speak out loud.”
He pulls me into his arms and spins me into the purple mist, his warm eyes smiling down at me. “Yes,” I tell him. “I want to be with you. To be your femme.”
The words linger on my lips. To be Slayer’s woman. For him to be my man. For us to be together.
Forever and ever.
I stand taller and kiss him. His lips are soft and inviting.
In this moment, I realize I’m not chasing my dream anymore.
