Because of Ellie.
Because of Claire.
Because a woman in a market had spoken the name Savannah Brooks and exposed the structure holding my life apart.
All of those answers belonged partly to someone else.
“Because I kept waiting until I could say it perfectly,” I said. “Eventually, perfection became another excuse.”
“Were you afraid?”
“Yes.”
“Of your audience?”
“Of the audience, the industry, the people whose jobs depend on decisions connected to mine. Some fears were reasonable. I also used them to avoid making a choice.”
The honesty surprised me after it left.
Across the city, thousands of people were gathering for the concert. Some might be disappointed. Some had likely understood years ago. Most were probably occupied with parking, merchandise lines, and whether the person beside them had taken too much of the armrest.
Daniel’s voice softened.
“Does this mean you are confirming the relationship people have been discussing?”
“No.”
The answer came without hesitation.
“She has not agreed to be part of this conversation. Speaking honestly about myself does not give me permission to speak for her.”
That sentence felt more important than the first.
Daniel nodded.
“Understood.”
He returned to the album after that. He asked one final question about the tour, thanked me for answering, and announced the concert details while I sat very still.
When the red light went dark, the studio became an ordinary room again.
Daniel removed his headphones.
“Thank you.”
“For which part?”
“The honest one.”
“That narrows it down less than you might think.”
He smiled.
Sophie entered before I had fully stood.
“That was not approved.”
“No.”
