Chapter 1

As always, when I was on stage, everything else melted away. Nothing mattered, except the pounding drums, the throbbing guitar, and my own voice. The magic of the music filled me and lifted me and made my life much more manageable.

It was like sex.

No, it was better than sex. It took me out of myself and made me part of something bigger.

This made it all worth it.

Pouring sweat, high on adrenaline and the cheers of the crowd, I bounced offstage. I knew I was a mess, my long blonde hair tangled hopelessly, my body glistening with sweat, but I didn’t care. It was all...