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Nine Years Ago
Last night I had a dream, the kind of dream that when you woke up, you closed your eyes and tried to fall back into that blissful sleep praying that somehow the dream would continue.
Charlotte was beside me wearing nothing but a sheet around her naked body. Her head rested on my shoulders as we sat for what felt like hours. My hands were positioned above the piano keys, but they were still. Faintly, I could hear a piano playing in the background. It was beautiful, and as much as I tried to move my hands to mirror the playing, they remained frozen.
I realized when I woke up the next morning that it was my subconscious telling me to play again. Between work and studying, I never had time to sit and play anymore, so here I was in my parents’ living room attempting to play the piano. As a child, I had also learned to play the guitar, but playing the piano had come naturally.
As I found the right keys, my fingers moved to the rhythm in my head. Sensing I was being watched, I stopped, surprised to see Charlotte standing at the door.
“Please don’t stop, Alex.” She smiled.
I motioned for her to sit next to me on the piano stool. She reluctantly did so but with a space between us. I ached for her to lean her head on my shoulder just like in my dream, but with Adriana home, I forced myself to ignore every voice which screamed in my head to reach out and touch her.
“I didn’t know you played. Actually, I wasn’t sure why your parents had a piano at all because Adriana doesn’t have a musical bone in her body.”
“I used to play,” I told her. “It’s been a while.”
“Will you play that song for me again? I love that song.”
“You knew what song it was?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Of course, I do. It’s ‘Right Here Waiting for You.’ Eighties music is my jam.”
I started to play the notes again. Closing my eyes, I couldn’t help but sing along, remembering each line of the song, and because she was right beside me, I wanted to sing the words to her that I couldn’t say out loud.
As the chorus began, Charlotte started to sing along with me. Her voice was amazing, so angelic and perfectly fitting for the song. I continued on, both of us in harmony and singing the entire song to each other.
When the song ended, I tried my best not to look her way, but it was impossible. Almost shyly, she continued to stare at the keys. Her cheeks were flushed, and I wanted to place the palm of my hand on her face and feel the heat of her skin, knowing she was feeling it because of me. But the risk was too high with everyone inside the house.
“Alex, your voice is amazing, and you play the piano…” she trailed off and paused for a few seconds then continued, “Why did you choose to study medicine?”
“I play guitar, too.” I smirked, knocking her shoulder.
“Anything else, Mr. Musical Prodigy?”
“Does the triangle count?” I joked. “No, but I always wanted a drum kit. Mom and Dad refused, saying drums lead to rock ‘n’ roll which leads to drug addiction. Besides, Charlotte, look who’s talking. Your voice is just… wow.”
“Maybe we should run off together and become a dynamic singing duo like Sonny and Cher.” She bowed her head, laughing
“‘They say we’re young and we don’t know,’” I started to sing, trying not to laugh.
She placed her hand on my shoulder as we laughed together until we heard a noise behind us. Both of us turned around. Samantha was standing under the arch. Fuck. I didn’t know how long she was standing there for, but I wasn’t doing anything wrong aside from loving the girl who sat beside me.
“Hi, Charlie. It’s good to see you’ve managed to get Alex playing the piano again,” she said, with a slow, steady gait.
“Not me, Sam. I just heard him. You’ve got yourself one talented man here,” Charlotte responded while sliding off the piano stool.
Raising her chin, she crossed her arms with a knowing grin. “I do, don’t I?”
“Well, I’m off. Nice jamming with you, Alex. Adriana is dragging me to a party across town. Apparently, she has someone she wants me to meet.”
What the fuck?
Was that supposed to make me feel better?
Calm the fuck down, Alex.
Charlotte just said that so Samantha wouldn’t be suspicious. She wouldn’t do anything to hurt me on purpose, especially with another guy.
