Page 35 of Matthew

These are my words

Lost on deaf ears

I want you to know

What I have to say

Don’t turn your back

This once, please stay

Tell me you hear me

Then tell me it’ll be okay

I do the best I can

Just give me a chance

This once, please stay

Hear what I have to say.”

Kom couldn’t pull his stare from Matt, but he was aware of Masok’s utter stillness beside him. Of Avir sitting open-mouthed. Of the continued silence of the audience.

They were stunned for good reason. Matt’s voice wasn’t merely nice. It was gorgeous, as was the music plucked from the Martin. The song was as beautiful as Matt himself, a treasure for the ears, even as it grew from a ballad-like beginning to a heavier intensity.

Most amazing of all, Matt’s head had come up, and he gazed over the audience. A plaintive not-quite-there smile teased the corners of his lips. Kom wasn’t sure if he saw the rapt listeners, but it seemed he sang to them, entreating them with the heartbreaking lyrics.

“What I need to tell

If you only knew

If you could hear me

I’d offer a clue

Word, verse, book

I’d recite to you

It’s etched on my heart

Bleeding the truth

Tell me you hear me

Then tell me it’s okay…”

His voice grew in volume, in stunning, heartbreaking rawness. It filled the room, shocking Kom anew.

This is my Mattie. How did I not know he could do this?

The music grew to a crescendo, guitar and Matt wailing emotion fit to bring tears to a hardened Nobek’s eyes. Then both dropped off, and the Martin whispered a few last gut-pulling notes before ending the song.

There was a breathless pause. Then the club erupted. Applause, cheers, and whistles shook the tables and glasses. Many were on their feet. There were calls of “Encore!”

Matt blinked as if waking up. He gawked at the thunderous ovation. A smile appeared, slowly creeping over his face. He blushed, his fair skin pinking to rose. He waved to his admirers awkwardly as the beaming club owner joined him on stage.

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