Nobody noticed as he quietly stepped onto the stage. His worn, black blazer swung open, unbuttoned, revealing the plain grey t-shirt underneath. He wore no jewelry, yet the lone spotlight caused what hung from his neck to shine with a heavenly brilliance. He made his way through the smoky haze to the center of the stage. A husky voice rang out from the speakers announcing the man’s name. There was no applause, the perpetual low murmur of voices went on undisturbed. The lack of enthusiasm didn’t hurt him, he hadn’t come out here for them. When he raised his horn to his lips, he did it for himself. When he breathed music into the dead piece of metal in front of him, something stirred inside him. Lost in the blue swell of the music, he could leave the cold world behind him. A bead of sweat formed on his furrowed brow as he wrapped his lips around the black rubber mouthpiece of the only world he loved.