I watched my brother play tonight at The Viper Room. He was really good. It was loud. I had a water bottle in one hand and my finger plugging my ear with the other. Then it popped into my head; I loved getting you gifts, but I can’t get you anything anymore, except for one thing; the only thing I’m capable of giving to you now; silence. I can try to give you silence to quiet your heart. A moment to help heal the wound. A respite so you can invest your love elsewhere. So my voice and my thoughts fade. With as much hope and will as I could muster to wait for you last year, I will endeavor to give you this gift as well. I fail a lot, but I hope I can be as strong as we both would like me to be. I’ll do my best. You know how to find me if you ever want to. Happy birthday.