Page 97 of Torch Songs

That was Seth too—not subtle.He’s moving to the mountains with his sister.

Then Christmas. We’re renting places in Monterey again. This time your plus one can be him.

And his sister?

Course. You know us. Sisters welcome.

Guthrie laughed softly to himself, and then Seth signed off and he was left alone, his only companions the indifferent stars seen through the drifting tulle of fog.

He’d gotten used to putting words and music down in the last month. Something about his time with Tad had made him more confident, broken the ice of the things he kept in his head but didn’t say. The song flowed out of him like a river.

Two-dozen crappy memories of Christmas

No toys, no food, no lights

I want to see you at Christmas

But it’s too far away tonight

Way off I might see happiness

Chocolate sugar mint high

Far away like the stars on a foggy night

I’ll reach for you to make you mine

Last night I dreamed I saw heaven

In a cabin across a lake

All I had to do was swim the distance

To reach out my hand and take it

But I couldn’t find the wind to keep going

The water was dragging me down

And my breath was getting shorter

I was going to drown

And when my head went under

When my eyes closed in despair

Your hand closed over mine

You pulled me into the air

We’ll cling to each other on a lifeboat

With the cabin right there in our sights

We’ll make it, I swear we will make it

If I just get to hold you tonight

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