Page 82 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

Soon, they were cleaned up and lying on the bed.

“How about we leave for Volos the day after tomorrow?” Mano asked, settling against Ody’s shoulder.

“Sounds perfect,” Ody said, pressing a soft kiss to his head.

They drifted off wrapped around each other.

The next morning, Ody woke to the sound of a distant melody. He reached for his phone, checking the screen before setting it aside. A faint frown pulled at his brows as he pushed himself up, listening.

There was a soft voice. Male. Singing.

He slipped out of bed, following the sound. The moment he stepped into the living room, he stilled.

Mano sat at the keyboard, fingers moving effortlessly over the keys as he sang.

Something in Ody’s chest tightened as he drew closer. Mano glanced at him, a small smile forming without breaking the melody, then let his gaze fall back to his hands.

Ody stopped a few steps away. Just watched.

Mano was singing. In front of him.

He stepped closer, then lowered himself onto his heels, looking up with a faint smile. Mano’s gaze flickered to him as he kept singing, and this time his smile deepened, even as he tried to continue. A moment later, his fingers stilled. So did his voice. He looked at Ody.

Ody tilted his head, still watching him. “You have a beautiful voice.”

Mano stood, moving closer as Ody rose to his feet.

“When we first met, on that double date… you told me you don’t sing,” Ody said, his tone quieter now.

Mano looked down. “Yeah… I avoid it.”

“Why?”

His eyes stayed lowered, unfocused. Like he wasn’t there anymore.

“Bright little moon up high, light my way as I walk by,” His mother’s voice filled the room, soft and warm, her fingers moving over the piano keys. Sunlight spilled through the window, catching in her hair.

Little Mano sat beside her, his legs swinging off the bench, watching her hands like they were magic.

“Come on, Mano,” she said. “You know this one.” She played the opening notes again.

This time, Mano joined in, his small voice quiet, a little unsure at first.

“That’s my boy.” She chuckled, pulling him into her arms, pressing a kiss to his head.

Mano grinned against her. “I want to sing like you when I grow up.”

“You will,” she said, like there was no doubt in the world. Her fingers brushed through his black hair. “You’ll be even better than me.”

His eyes lit up. “I wanna write too!”

“Oh yeah?” she smiled. “What are you going to write?”

“Music. Songs no one’s ever made before.”

She laughed, her arms tightening around him. “I can’t wait to hear them.”

“I always wanted to write songs,” he said. “She never got to hear any of them.” He swallowed, looking down. “And after that… it just stopped feeling the same.”