Chapter 6

Karlee, being generous, set me up in her vacant apartment.

When I woke up the next morning, my lower back was covered in bruises.

My throat hurt, too.

It felt like I'd swallowed a handful of sand.

I went to the hospital for a check-up.

After the doctor looked at my throat with the scope, he frowned.

"Your vocal cords are severely inflamed. You need to stop singing for now," he said.

I asked, "How long?"

"At least a month," he replied.

He paused, then added, "If you keep straining your voice like this, you could lose it for good."