Smoking

The hardwood body vibrates with each pluck of the string.  Every kick drum excites some neuron in my brain that incites my finger to pluck a string.  As the smoke clears on stage I can finally see the crowd.  Each head is nodding in time.  The lights run across the room back and forth until the stage explodes with it's climax and bam the song is over.  I race back to my marshall to light a cigarette.  I breath a sigh of relief as the smoke coats my lungs like a warm blanket.  The first inhale always reminded me of the good times at the start of a good relationship.  The first few intakes feels like that perfect first kiss.  The lips meet exchanging soothing comfort.  Each exhale reminds me of being touched by an angel.  As the smoke clears the lungs you can feel the tender touch of a loved one caressing the side of your face.  The guitar screams with feedback, yelling down my back to be ready for the next song.  I leave the stoogie in my mouth and turn to address the crowd.  As the smoke stops stinging my eye, fucking habit is a selfish bitch, I catch the gaze of eternal beauty in the darkness.  The lights on stage start pounding my face as I begin to lose her in the crowd.  I race down one side to catch that one last glimpse of the fair creature as she walks right out of sight.  By the breakdown of the song I have to unleash hell, I stub the smoke out in world record fashion with my chuck taylors.  The band hits silence and I sling my head back to catch the downbeat.  I throw my head to the floor as the next beat starts to make my heart pound.  The end of the breakdown I'm sore, tired, and I can't walk straight.  I take a moment to breathe as the world finally starts to slow down.  The song ends with no surprise, same song same story.  I get a second to look around again for the enchanted being that crossed my path.  Through out the whole crowd of characters that would come out of some gothic high school fantasy I couldn't catch an eye of what heaven is like.  This was no time for silly games, it was time to focus and give a show.  I play the rest of the set leaving my heart beating on the stage.  The crowd breaks apart and find their way out.  As the last person on stage I found myself desperately seeking air.  I step outside only to be turned to stone.  I catch that one glimpse I was searching for on stage.  The moon held a spotlight on her and her only.  I felt my heart lurch forward in my chest to come out and greet her.  I walk up to her and say hello.  She replies with the sweetest voice Hi, you were great.  I thanked her and asked her name.  We converse about music and bullshit ourselves into hysterical laughter.  A few moments later another guy comes from out of nowhere.  He says his name and makes a quick witty remark.  I can see by the smirk on his chiseled face that he had already had her hooked.  Before the moment could even be enjoyed it was gone.  I was left on my own in some creepy parking lot of some creepy bar.  I scraped what was left of heart off of the pavement and gathered myself back inside with a caring beer as I sat on staged and jammed with myself.  I light one more cigarette and it's love at first sight.  My smoking was always a jealous bitch, but at least she was there.