Wynton feels the weight of the moment as he steps onto the stage, a storm of emotions brewing inside him. As the spotlight blazes down on him, he makes a daring choice: unplugging his electric violin. The screech of feedback that follows resonates through the club, sending a jolt through the audience, setting the stage for a bold, raw performance. Determined to make a statement, Wynton chooses Eugène Ysaÿe’s Sonata #3, a piece that holds deep meaning for him, and plays it with every ounce of emotion he can summon. The haunting melody silences the room, captivating everyone in attendance, from the bartenders to the audience, who find themselves entranced by his soul-stirring performance. The music flows like an emotional river, unburdening him of his doubts and inner turmoil, yet tears silently trace down his face as he plays, the weight of his vulnerability revealed beneath his sunglasses. For a brief moment, he forgets the world around him, lost in the music and his connection to it.

When Wynton finishes, he raises his bow in anticipation of the applause he knows should follow, but instead, a tense silence fills the room. Seconds stretch into what feels like an eternity as he anxiously waits, unsure of how his performance was received. Just as the uncertainty begins to gnaw at him, the silence is shattered by an eruption of applause that feels both overwhelming and affirming. Cheers and clapping fill the air, and Wynton’s spirit soars as the audience acknowledges the raw emotion and talent he poured into his performance. Drinks are offered to him, and the camaraderie of the crowd lifts his spirits, distracting him from the thoughts of his absent father. Even Doc Larry, usually stern, gives a compliment, acknowledging Wynton’s passion, while Max—once a source of tension in Wynton’s life—now expresses his respect and admiration. For a fleeting moment, Wynton feels validated, as though his music has finally earned him the recognition he so desperately sought. However, despite the accolades, a lingering feeling of emptiness creeps in. He expected to see the Hell Hyena and the Furniture band members, a band that had shown interest in him after his glowing review from a local critic, but they are nowhere to be found. His thoughts wander back to his childhood, to memories of Sylvester Duncan, a character from a story that had frightened him when he was younger. But before he can dwell too long on these troubling thoughts, a familiar face enters his line of sight, pulling him back into the present moment.

The presence of Dawn, a woman from his past, overwhelms Wynton, filling him with both desire and confusion. Her familiar smile is a beacon of warmth, and they quickly find themselves drawn into an intimate space together. What follows is a passionate and euphoric encounter that seems to blur the lines between reality and fantasy. The physical connection they share brings Wynton a sense of fleeting fulfillment, as if for a moment, he has found what he’s been yearning for: someone who understands him, someone who ignites a spark inside him. In this brief moment of shared vulnerability and closeness, Wynton feels alive, the pressure of his emotional burdens lifted, if only temporarily. The heat of their passion fills him with an overwhelming sense of vitality and connection, contrasting sharply with the isolation and loneliness he often feels in his day-to-day life. But as quickly as the intensity of the moment arrives, it starts to fade, and Wynton is left with a hollow feeling. The connection he experienced with Dawn, once so electrifying, now feels distant and empty. The brief joy they shared slips through his fingers, leaving him to face the reality of his own isolation. The encounter, while intense, reminds him of how fleeting human connections can be, highlighting the transitory nature of his emotional experiences. Wynton is once again left to grapple with the emptiness that follows the highs of fleeting connections, confronted by the solitude that inevitably follows.