Wynton stumbles alone through the dark night, weighed down by the emotional and physical scars of his past. Stripped of home, dreams, and friendships, he’s haunted by memories of a brutal assault at the hands of a man named Brian Fuckmutt. As the night weighs heavily on him, thoughts of his father, Theo Fall, drift through his mind, reminding him of the days when they used to discuss jazz music. He drowns in a haze of alcohol and pain, retreating into fragmented visions of his brother Miles, whom he imagines to be the source of his suffering. The complexity of Wynton’s internal battle is clear, as he fights to reconcile the trauma of his past with the overwhelming emotions he experiences in the present.

In his inebriated state, Wynton attempts to find solace in his violin, but instead of music, tears flood his eyes as painful memories from his middle school orchestra days resurface. He struggles with his internal conflict, feeling as though a “poison-person” haunts him, affecting his thoughts and peace of mind. Overcome with disorientation, Wynton yearns for an escape, but his sense of self is too shattered to find clarity. Just as he feels lost in this sea of sorrow and self-doubt, a mysterious figure appears: a girl with vibrant, curly hair who speaks to him in a deep, soothing voice. Intrigued and comforted by her presence, Wynton begins to hope that maybe, just maybe, she holds the answers he’s desperately seeking.

The girl introduces herself as Cassidy, and Wynton quickly grows captivated by her kindness and her soothing presence. He believes her to be an angel sent by Dizzy, a mutual friend, to guide him out of his despair. Cassidy offers him an escape from his misery, urging him to leave the road behind and promises to take him home. Wynton, feeling an emotional connection that he has longed for, confesses his love for her, convinced that he is experiencing a profound moment of awakening. As they share laughter and reminisce, Wynton feels lighter, as if the weight of his past has been momentarily lifted. Cassidy’s charm and warmth envelop him, making the dark night feel less lonely, filling him with hope and a renewed sense of life.

In that fleeting moment, the night transforms around them, filled with beauty and music, as if the world itself had shifted to grant him peace. Wynton, who has lived through so much pain and loss, experiences a rare sense of joy, knowing that he is connected to someone in a way he has not felt in years. Cassidy reveals that she has returned for him, igniting a sense of romantic hope within Wynton that temporarily pushes away the shadow of despair he had been trapped in for so long. Their connection grows deeper, and for a brief, shining moment, they share a dance as if the world had stopped moving. The joy of that dance makes him feel like he’s rediscovered a part of himself, a hope he thought he’d lost forever.

But as quickly as it had begun, their moment of connection is shattered. A car suddenly appears, and Cassidy’s voice calling out to Wynton fills the air, urging him to step back. His world falls into darkness, and the brief moment of happiness he experienced slips away, replaced by the overwhelming uncertainty and despair he has struggled with all along. This chapter encapsulates Wynton’s internal conflict, his desperate yearning for love and human connection, and his fragile hope that healing could come from such a traumatic experience, even as his journey teeters on the edge of despair. The fleeting moments of connection remind Wynton of the possibility of change, even in the face of overwhelming darkness.