Ryan uses the motif of music to present Art as Historical Reclamation. Verity and Monk each have a personal connection to the theme through their respective careers as a screenwriter and composer, and art serves as their primary medium for their bond, authentic emotional expression, and healing. From the moment Verity first sees him, she is captivated, thinking he plays “like God Himself anointed those hands” (3). For Monk, music is a spiritual act and the only space where he feels truly aligned with his purpose. He explains to Verity that when he is playing, it is “the closest [he’s] ever felt to God” (22). This confession establishes music as his most honest language, a way to communicate feelings that transcend the mistrust and pain of their past. The songs he chooses or writes become a barometer for their relationship, from the Stevie Wonder cover that marks their meeting to the original song “Walk Away,” which channels his heartbreak. Music also is a tool for Art as Historical Reclamation as Monk and Verity collaborate on the score for Dessi Blue to honor forgotten Black artists. Ultimately, music is the constant, reliable force that draws them together, offering a pathway to intimacy and reconciliation when words alone are insufficient to bridge the gap created by trauma and misunderstanding.