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“You’ve been out for three weeks, and tonight is already your second show. It looks like you couldn’t wait to get back on stage.”

I force a smile and nod. “Yeah, that’s just how we are.”

“Your first gig exceeded all expectations. The crowd went wild. How did you pull that off? I mean… honestly… you only had a week to rehearse. It’s possible, but how?”

“Well… I didn’t have anything else to do,” I answer with charm and a shrug. “I’m more surprised the guys could make it work. Each of them had built their own lives for five years. My release came out of nowhere. They basically dropped everything overnight.”

“Did you still remember the songs?”

“I’ll admit—not all of them. The big hits, yeah. But once I heard them again, the memories came right back.”

“What does it feel like to be a free man again?”

Something inside me tightens. I know the small talk is over. But the pill makes me not give a fuck what she wants to ask. I’m cool. Zen monk level. Let her ask whatever. Rebuild my image? That ship sailed a long time ago.

Still, I don’t have a quick answer for this one. I stare through Angela for a second, spaced out. The label has me on a leash, and until these gigs are done, I’m their puppet. Am I going to complain about it? No.

“Aran?”

I blink and clear my throat.

“Yeah, uh… a free man. Right. It… hasn’t really sunk in yet.” I manage a smile and search the floor for a better answer. “Maybe I should’ve scheduled a week at the beach first,” I joke.

Angela chuckles and glances at her notes. “Besides band rehearsals, what else have you been doing? What was the first thing you did when you got home after so long?”

I had a nervous breakdown, I think, but obviously don’t say it. That’s not what people want to hear.

Or maybe it is?

Fuck, Aran. Just do the interview and stop overthinking.

Would this be the moment to mention Koh?

Or better not to say I have a roommate?

Ugh.

“It was already evening when I got back to my place, so I took a shower,” I answer, pretending to be casual. “The next day I grabbed burgers with the band. Just normal stuff.”

“Did you miss the food?”

“Yeah,” I say without hesitation. “Not necessarily burgers, but I was really looking forward to sushi and a beer.”

“What was prison like?”

I’ve been dreading this question. I knew it would drag up all the ugly memories while I have to sit here and smile. But the pill is working wonders. I glide one leg over the other and rub my chin.

“It was… I don’t know. No matter what I say, people who haven’t lived it won’t understand what it’s like to be locked up.” I pick at my thumb, working hard to keep my face neutral. “It was hard at first,” I admit. “But… you find a way. You don’t have a choice.”

“How did you pass the time?”

“I learned Polish, did some writing and drawing.”

“That sounds peaceful,” Angela says lightly, glancing at her notes.

“Peaceful?”

She looks up, surprised I picked up on the word. “Yes, I… it…”