Chapter 23

Carmen had rest for a few days at the insistence of Shane. Today she had accompanied Shane to the recording studio. Shane had the headphones clasped in her hands and she cleared her throat several times into the microphone. Carmen stood at the control room, with Shane’s mineral water in her hands. There were dark shadows beneath Shane’s eyes and Carmen could not help wondering what had been keeping her up at night. There were so many things haunting her, and some part of Carmen just wanted to stand between her and her demons. Foolish indeed, but when it came to Shane, her rationality seemed to be vastly overrated. Shane raked her fingers through her hair. The studio was dimly lit and when she started singing, Carmen’s eyes could not stray away from her. Her vintage tee and worn jeans. The emotions on her face as they were separated by a panel of glass.

Too late to hide
and too tired to care
Take what you’ve learned
and forget the rest
Take what you see
of what’s left of me
You know where I’ve been
and I don’t want to go there again

Her eyes drifted over to Carmen and she looked right into hers. Those lost, tormented eyes. To look into them would to be sucked into her torment but Carmen could not turn away from the emotions suppressed in those eyes and the thin veil of control that snapped when she started singing the chorus.

You’re beautiful
You’re confusing
You’re illogical
You’re amazing
and I’ve seen the world
it’s overrated
Until you’re everything and
I have nothing
but an empty space

Suddenly, her voice trailed off and when Carmen looked at Shane, there was no shield hiding her emotions. Her expression was unguarded in that single moment that seemed to span forever. It was as though time had frozen and the world consisted of only the two of them, with their knowing eyes and the realisation that everything they had feared and tried to escape from had happened. Carmen was lost in this world, where nothing remained except the inexplicable, powerful feelings surging through her.

“Shane?” The producer bent over the mixing console prodded Shane and she lowered her eyes. “Sorry, I got distracted…give me a while,” Shane put down the headphones and strode out of the studio. Carmen lifted her hand to pass the bottle of mineral bottle to her and when Shane took it, the tips of her fingertips grazed hers. Shane turned her head up to look at her and quickly evaded her eyes as she opened the door and went out.