So I stood in a circle of people at a party one night and looked to the other smiling faces and wondered if they, at that very moment, felt as alone as I did.  "Friend", I wanted to say to the handsome man with the winning smile, "is that shadow next to you cast by my solitude or yours?"

But, while still wondering whether the question would spark a newfound kinship or just derisive laughter, I noticed a second shadow grow beside the first, this one cast by doubt.  So, I decided the query be better left unasked. 

So, with Solitude's companion, Doubt, the party got very crowded indeed.  I sat on the couch and Solitude and Doubt joined me.  I sat listening to the party's chatter as it blended together into a simple tune, conversations setting the beat and laughter singing lyrics in the most human language of all. 

I smiled to all an inviting smile and I let myself wish someone would come speak to me about what I heard in their conversations, to guide me through this strange evening's adventure, but Solitude reminded me that the couch was already crowded and could accommodate no more. 

So I sat, without a guide, seated between Solitude and Doubt in a crowded room, when I heard the whispers of a voice.  It spoke about my fears of loneliness and my uncertainties about everything, describing them as only I know them.  I thought this voice may be my conscious, or even my subconscious, but really I did not want to know.  Secretly, I wanted this voice to be an angel, guardian only to me, or even God, taking a moment to acknowledge his more questionable creation before he returned to the task of overseeing all that there is.  I wanted to know that the voice was the guide I sought. 

Was I vain to think myself worthy of such attention from the universe or was I just afraid I really was not?  I had no idea but the voice did indeed guide my fingers over the guitar when I sat hunched over it after the party, at four in the morning, trying to capture that moment when I wondered about it all.  When I was done, hours later, exhausted and sleep deprived, I sat back and listened to the recordings trying to decide if I should share this song with the world or if I should just keep this, my own little madness, to myself.  Solitude smiled and said "go for it", and Doubt laughed and refreshed my drink with a little more whiskey. 

And so the song is titled 'Alone With You'.

-Zane