We Talk One Year After Breaking-Up, part 1 (Episode 1, Exes series - Moody Musician)

Transcript

As you listen to this audio role-play, I invite you to use headphones and imagine yourself as the main character of this story. Hey you two! That was a beautiful ceremony.

I'm so happy for you both. Oh yeah, of course you made me cry! Your vows were incredible! Truly, you're both glowing.

Thank you for inviting me to this. Yeah, that was a really amazing moment to be a part of. Yeah, well listen, I wish you both a super happy life together.

Alright, alright, I'll let you get back to it. I'm gonna head outside to the garden for some fresh air for a bit. Yeah, exactly.

Too many people in here. Alright, catch you later. Well then, it looks like great minds think alike.

No surprise the two introverts at this party ended up out here in the yard. Hi you, long time no see. Can I hug you? I was hoping you might be at this thing.

I mean, our friends getting married and all. Yeah, yeah, I have time. I'd love to sit with you and catch up.

Huh? Am I honestly glad to see you? Yeah, yeah, for real.

I mean, I wish I'd seen you before actually, but I don't know, it didn't feel like the right time yet, you know? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I get it.

I mean, we agreed. We needed time to heal and move on, right? It's been, what now, a year? Well, you're looking great.

Yeah, yeah, I like that hairstyle on you. It suits you. And you're still wearing the same Converse All-Stars I see.

Oh, yeah, right. Yeah, there was indeed a time when I saw you wear nothing but those Converse All-Stars. That feels like a lifetime ago now, doesn't it? Well, thank you.

Yeah. Yeah, I've been hiking tons and just generally a lot more active, I guess. I do.

I feel great. Or at least in terms of my physical health anyway. Mental health is better, but I wouldn't call it great just yet.

And how about you? How've you been? Right, right, this could take a while, I hear ya.

But really, what's last year been like for you? You know, since we broke up? Have you been okay? Yeah, right.

Really? Oh, wow. Yeah, that's a lot.

Yeah, I mean, similar for me. Hurt like hell for a long time. And then it got better.

Yeah, I did some hard soul-searching, therapy. And eventually I slowly started to rebuild myself. And find my way again, you know? Cool.

Cool, good. Yeah, yeah. Well, I'm glad you were able to get support too.

Yeah, it really can be life-changing to get professional help. But it still takes strength and courage and grit to keep at the work of loving and forgiving ourselves. So good on ya, really.

I know from going through it myself that doing that inner work is no joke. Yeah, but you're right, it really did help. What's that quote you used to say all the time? Wasn't it a Star Wars reference or something? Yeah, yeah, when Luke Skywalker goes into the cave to find that Darth Vader is actually himself? Right, right, that quote.

Right, by the philosopher Joseph Campbell? What was it again? Aha, right.

The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek. Right, right. Yeah, exactly, you gotta face your shit and tackle your inner demons.

Exactly. We are absolutely our own worst enemies, aren't we? Well, there you go.

Sounds like we've both been spending a lot of time in our caves this past year. Well, we're introverts, right? So, you know, that's not hard for us.

Right, no, you're right. It's also not necessarily always good for us either. We do need to come out of hiding sometimes, hey? Yeah, I know.

Well, speaking of which, have you started dating again? Right, right. No, no, me neither.

Yeah, exactly. Too busy hibernating in my cave. Well, actually, I've been traveling a lot.

So I've actually been meeting lots of new people. And I've been moving around all over the place. So I haven't been in a cave in that sense.

But I guess, spiritually, I have definitely been in hiding and healing mode. And I'm keeping my heart pretty tightly protected these days. Yeah, yeah, sounds like you can relate to that.

What's that? Where have I traveled to? Well, I did three big international trips.

And took on some work gigs overseas for about six months. Yeah, one in Central America, one in Asia, and one in Africa. Yeah, yeah, that was really amazing actually.

Oh yeah, yeah, I love the expat lifestyle, I really do. And the community is great. I met so many interesting folks from all over the world.

And then for the other six months, I traveled around Canada and the US in my van. Yeah, yeah, exactly. I did the whole van life thing.

Yep, just like I had dreamed about and talked about. Well, I mean, you helped me design and build my van. Yeah, back then we thought we'd do this whole van life thing together.

Yeah, it sure turned out differently than we expected, didn't it? But yeah, solo van life has turned out to be really awesome actually. And again, another terrific community.

I've met so many like-minded folks. Yeah, I got to visit with a bunch of my friends I hadn't seen in years. And made all kinds of acquaintances along the way.

Yeah, there were some assholes here and there. And a couple of scary moments. But for the most part, just a generous, kind, friendly community of fellow wanderers.

Yeah, yeah, who knew I liked socializing, right? I know. But as it turns out, I'm actually a lot more outgoing than I realized.

Especially when I'm with people who are actually nice. Yeah, I realized I was introverted mainly around toxic assholes. I know, right? Who knew? Mind blown.

So yeah, that's been a fun discovery about myself through my travels. I'm extroverted and gregarious. Who knew? Yes, and it's also been nice to be reminded that the world isn't always perfect.

The world isn't always evil. There are actually some nice, kind people out there. I swear.

Yeah, I just had to leave home and go find them. How about you? What have you been doing? Right, still gigging and touring during festival season.

And running your music shop off-season. Cool. Business is still good, yeah? That's great.

Right, but moving more into online and virtual performances with your music. Uh-huh. Yeah.

Nice. Yeah, I mean, that makes sense. Sure, sure.

I'd love to. Forward me your stuff. I'd love to check it out.

Is it still alternative and punk and spoken word kind of stuff? Oh, I see. More of a pop vibe now? Cool.

Wow! Oh, really? This is actually your music playing in there right now? Your band's recent album? That's awesome! Yeah, yeah, I like it.

Yeah, it is quite different from your previous stuff. But that's still definitely your sound, you know? So, uh, do you like this new group you're with? Are your bandmates cool? Great, great.

It's a band that supports you and treats you better? Oh, well, I'm really glad to hear that. Yeah, yeah, those other guys were so fucking toxic.

They really made life hell for us, didn't they? Yeah, yeah, I know. It really messed me up too.

And I guess, uh, it's really what broke us up in the end, wouldn't you say? I mean, we had problems already, but. ..

I mean, we had problems already, but, uh, that was a major straw that broke the camel's back. Yeah, yeah, it was horrible. Well, I'm so glad.

I'm so glad you moved on and found a better gang to jam with. Really? They're more like family than friends you jam with? Huh.

That's really great. Yeah, seriously. I know how much you wanted to be close to your bandmates.

I mean, these are people you gig and tour with and spend the majority of your life with. Yeah, yeah, more than your girlfriend. Don't I know it.

But no, jokes aside, I really am happy for you. That's wonderful to hear you found a family with them. You've waited a long time for that, and you've been through hell to get there.

Oh, really? Your band is playing at the pub on Tuesday night? Yeah, actually, I'll still be in town.

No, I don't leave until next weekend. So, uh, what time are you guys playing? Sure, I'd love to.

Um, but just to be really upfront, yeah, this isn't a date or anything like that, okay? Right, just to be super clear. No, I, uh, I don't want to get back together.

Yeah, exactly. But I really would like to maybe catch up and process some of this stuff together, you know? Right, exactly.

Maybe get some closure. And yeah, honestly, I'd love to hear more of your new music. Yeah, I was always your biggest fan.