The dive bar’s dim lights usually set the stage for karaoke nights fueled by cheap drinks and fleeting romances. Tonight, lights cast a long shadow over Seraphina. As her friend (I am very invested in her happiness) and knew she’d dreamed of diva stardom since she was little, a burning desire for the spotlight. But I’d witness another, equally strong yearning tugged at her: motherhood. The irony wasn’t lost on either of us. A voice like hers, meant for concert halls, was confined to this smoky bar, a regular haunt for off-duty military personnel and the occasional karaoke die-hard. Each rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin'” or “I Will Survive” was a gentle reminder of her own dreams on hold. Worthy men? They seemed to vanish like smoke. Until he walked in.
The air shifted, or maybe that was just my… our heightened senses. He moved with a quiet confidence. His presence was a current of energy in the room. And his hair…let’s just say it was impressive. Seraphina’s breath hitched. I (We) felt it too. Then he sang.
The room quieted. Seraphina felt a stirring within her, a long-dormant spark flickering to life. It wasn’t just a good voice; it was something deeper, a raw emotional expression. We both felt it.
Suddenly, just watching wasn’t enough. She had to sing with him. The opening notes of “Shallow” echoed in her mind, and I (we) knew, with a certainty that settled deep in us, that this was more than just a duet.
This was a moment.
A chance.
A possibility.
We couldn’t be sure what it meant, but as Seraphina rose to join him on the small stage, I knew one thing: tonight, something was going to happen. Something important. Something…Soulfull.
