“Then invite her to join the band!”

Everyone burst into laughter.

The footage shifted between performances, backstage clips, and hilarious rehearsal moments.

In one scene, Dad attempted to leap from a speaker but landed on his backside.

In another, the bassist knocked over a tray of drinks.

I laughed until tears filled my eyes.

I’d never known this version of Dad. He was energetic, hilarious, and outspoken, nothing like the silent man I’d eaten breakfast with.

Then the video abruptly stopped.

The screen went dark.

Seconds later, Dad appeared.

Not the young musician from the footage, but the man we’d buried that morning.

He sat in the same studio, his face gaunt and most of his hair gone from cancer.

“Hey, son.”

My breath caught.

He looked at his hands before speaking again.

“I’ve never been good at this stuff. Talking about feelings. You know that better than anybody.”