Based on/inspired by a vocalist - by Stephanie Milem

With a foot on the stand before me I leaned down and gripped the microphone with both hands. I held it closer to my mouth and screamed a little louder, forced the words from my body a little harder. In a quick jerk I pulled my hand back from the mic and pressed the fingertips into my chest, over my heart. I dragged my nails down my chest, ripping open my own skin in fine red lines across my body.

Let them see me fully, raw and untamed. Let the music, my words, and my pain flow freely until my voice dies and I have nothing left to scream. Until I’m spent and useless, lying on my back and gasping for breath while they continue to scream louder and louder. While they scream for me, for us, and cry as they empty themselves and forget everything for a moment. While they lose themselves in words they’ll never fully understand.

While the lights have turned on and the stage is empty, the feeling remains.