~OCEANO~
The next few days were moments stolen with the guitar and whispered conversations with Avery and Joe. We discussed venues, band names, and the possibility of recording an album. Leo was thrilled, of course, at the idea of his mom being a rockstar, and he'd often throw in his own suggestions for band names, the latest being 'Mommy's Melodic Miracles'. I couldn't help but laugh every time he'd say it with such earnestness.
One afternoon, while Leo was playing in the park with Avery, I decided to tackle my fears head-on. I booked a gig at a local pub that had an open mic night, my heart pounding with every keystroke; the thought of performing my own music, my own stories, was exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure.
The day of the performance, I paced the floor of our apartme
