Hiya! Whatcha? How are you? How’s things?! Cool, cool, cool… Yeah. Yup! Yea? You want to know about my latest single, New Heartache? That’s spectacular! I’d love to tell you about it!

When I was an angsty preteen, I came across an ad in a magazine for a film. The tagline read, “ Remember when you couldn’t wait for your life to begin and then one day it did?” I cannot recall the film and I most certainly did not ever see it. I did, however, cut out that portion of the page and post it to my bedroom wall. For years to come that small piece of paper escorted me through the darkest of days with its promise of hope. I even took it with me off to college. It was while I was there, I gifted my token to my best friend in the hopes of it bringing her similar strength. Nevertheless, the words never left me.

I think most of us have a notion of what it might feel like when you meet someone that will change you. That person that changes your life, your heart, your mind, and your soul, the way you see the world, and maybe even the way the world sees you. But… do we ever think about what happens next?

I wrote “Pretend” in an effort to reflect on a life and love well lived. A boundless love that is both indescribable and confounding to most. This love was experienced and embraced by many, and yet ridiculed and sabotaged by others. Many would say it is a love greatly missed, even years later. However, we all have a different perspective on its legend. So what’s real? What is the “truth” and what might have been “pretend”? Who’s to say?

The only thing I know for certain is … I was never the same again.