All content & writing by Brad Jaeger © The NACHTKABARETT

Apart from the vanity and misconceptions; the falsities and facades; the egocentrism and ignorance; the disenchanted state of rock n' roll, and the rampant corruption – if you can put all of that aside for a moment – at its heart, Machina remains a story of love and wonder, "a boy and a girl, simple yes but eternal always". (Story of Glass I)

Glass is "born of love" (Everlasting Gaze), and it's not long before he sets his eyes upon a woman named June; a woman who "had no faith but that which destroys and had only known herself in coarse mirrors"; distinctly "opium eyed and gouge mouthed" (Story of Glass I). Despite her numerous shortcomings, Glass feels drawn to her, viewing her as "a pure soul" (Stand Inside Your Love), "in bathing light and naked" (Wound).

Glass & June were first brought together by their reflection in each other, "he in her that which he could not claim", and June "in him that which she so desperately needed" (Story of Glass I ). Their love burned with a passion that only a meeting of the stars could produce, as "their fates had intertwined long before they were lovers, their moment extending back before a time their eyes first met, and that bond was eternal". (Story of Glass I)

On their own Glass and June were weak – hollow and suffering wrecks - until they saw in each other the strength to persevere, holding true that "only love can win" (This Time). This was not the sign of a hollow crush, but rather something much deeper, "immutable", "meant to be" (Stand Inside Your Love); a "pure and indivisible love" (Story of Glass I)

The impact that love holds for Glass is quite simply, "incalculable" (Stand Inside Your Love). The dynamic clash caused by the ignorance and vanity of the egocentric and "prophetic" rock star is dashed to pieces by the humility of love – "love is everything I want" (Home) – the shining beacon which keeps Glass from completely losing sight of what truly matters. Regardless of the obstacles they face, the two are bound together, and together they move forward "try[ing] to hold on" (Try, Ttry, Try).

However, even a force as powerful of love is not immune to negative qualities. Glass' love is quite obviously devotional, perhaps as much (if not surpassing) his devotion to God. At the very least, his love for June is on par with the worship of any other deity, "forever waiting on the ways of [her] desire" (Everlasting Gaze). This is no doubt unwelcome to a woman who is "resentful of penetrating worship", though Glass may have mistaken her stoic and sometimes cold demeanor for any other religious relic, as "she often resembled a statue in a museum" (Story of Glass V).

It should be stated however, that Glass' redeeming quality is his honesty. He freely admits, "I'm selfish to a fault", but follows it up with a legitimate question - "Is it selfish it's you I want [?]" (Crying Tree of Mercury)

A pivotal moment - poignant and self realizing enough to be an epiphany - is when our hero realizes that "If you want love you must be love/But if you bleed love you will die loved" (Age of Innocence). Such a beautiful remark reflects the purity of his love. Glass is immovable, promising "this love will stand as long as you". (Crying Tree of Mercury)

His maturity is once again evident when he unabashedly pairs love with pain, "give me tears/give me love" (Sacred & Profane). To say the very least, it shows a profound understanding to make such a statement. To desire not only love and happiness, but also the bitter tears of pain is an astonishing thing to be wished and contrary to our hedonistic nature.

One can only experience one abstract by the extremity of its antithesis. In other words, to know love, you must know pain, and vice versa. The greatest moments of your life can only be measured if you have similar moments of doubt, suffering, and dismay. The flip side to it all is that when you experience the bitter, the sweet becomes evermore splendid than it did before. The more you experience the vast array of the spectrum, the more you are able to recognize and appreciate that which you have.

If the romance between Glass & June is there to teach us anything, it would be this: there is nothing to be lost in giving love, and you have everything to gain from it. To make the world a better place, all you have to do is give love. If you're lucky, you may even find that someone who appreciates you for who you are, and reciprocates that love in return. Quite simply…love and be loved.