MELODY
I awoke to find myself staring up at a shadowy silhouette—a patch of woman-shaped darkness that was rimmed with a knife-edge of brilliance as the moving beams of the club’s lighting system strobed over her back.
“You awake?” she asked.
“I dunno…you real?” My face felt like putty and reality was still warped around the edges, but I’d regained some executive function. I pulled myself upright, feeling like I was trying to haul myself out of a dream. I was on a couch in the farthest, darkest corner of the lounge. I couldn’t remember how I’d gotten there. The other couches were empty, and down below, so was the stage. I got the feeling it was nearly dawn.
“I’m Melody.”
The dark woman standing over me held out a hand, palm down. I took it, unsure if I was supposed to shake it or kiss
