The scene where the realization occurs is when Sonny shows his brother his talent on the piano. Not only are the images extremely emotional as she felt “her own tears begin to well up” for the first time in a long time, but the symbol of the shaking cup is also striking. Finally, the narrator has his epiphany. He sees the cup "[shining] and [s[ak]e above [his] brother's head" most likely symbolizing the sacred cup or luminous halo which alludes to the sacred biblical cup used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. Those who have a bright halo above their head are considered saints or saints. So, having this cup suspended over Sonny's head gives the impression that Sonny is, in fact, no longer a sinner and moving towards salvation. As his music plays, the cup rises, signifying that through Sonny's music he is able to replace his previous addiction with a more productive one: music. For the narrator to realize this, he can become much more aware of his brother's passion through "the uneasiness that stretches above [them], longer than the sky." Although there are troubles above them, the narrator realizes that "freedom is lurking all around [them]" and that his brother's music gives Sonny a healthier freedom than he had with heroin. He is able to channel his struggles caused by heroin into something beautiful with his music. Through this realization, the narrator