*note* The song in this story is "The Voice Within" by Christina Aguilera. I did not write the song, I just like it a lot and it fitted my story. Thanks. ~Papi Sierra

"Young girl, don't cry

I'll be right here when your world starts to fall

Young girl, it's all right

Your tears will dry, you'll soon be free to fly"

She sat at her piano, plunking out the sad melody quietly. Everything was wrong. She just wanted to curl up and die. Nothing was the way she thought it should be.

"When you're safe inside your room you tend to dream

Of a place where nothing's harder than it seems

No one ever wants or bothers to explain

Of the heartache life can bring and what it means"

She would not deny that she had been through a lot. But she had never been in love like this before. Maybe she had, but never had anyone loved her back like this. It was stronger than ever before. She didn't think she could live without him.

"When there's no one else

Look inside yourself

Like your oldest friend

Just trust the voice within

Then you'll find the strength

That will guide your way

If you will learn to begin

To trust the voice within"

Her voice began to slowly caress the notes and words as her fingers moved over the keys. She wanted to play on her guitar, but the guitar brought back bad memories. She would play her piano instead. She had learned the piano in a time of horror and fear. She had learned the guitar amongst love. It was so odd how things could change.

"Young girl, don't hide

You'll never change if you just run away

Young girl, just hold tight

And soon you're gonna see your brighter day"

She liked to hide behind her music. It was safe. She had taught herself almost all that she knew. She didn't have to hold bad memories... she had never hurt herself. She needed to be strong alone. There was no one else. "Now in a world where innocence is quickly claimed

It's so hard to stand your ground when you're so afraid

No one reaches out a hand for you to holdWhen you're lost outside look inside to your soul"

Innocence. She sang the word but didn't understand. She had never been able to be innocent. The little girl playing on the floor beside her was innocent. She was not. She could never be.

"When there's no one else

Look inside yourself

Like your oldest friend

Just trust the voice within

Then you'll find the strength

That will guide your way

If you will learn to begin

To trust the voice within"

Memories haunted her. She didn't want any memories. She didn't want a future, either. Not the future that she faced. One of loneliness, one of pain. Just like the past. It was cruelly ironic in a way. She pounded the piano harder as she played, trying to drown out her thoughts, but they wouldn't go away.

"Life is a journey

It can take you anywhere you choose to go

As long as you're learning

You'll find all you'll ever need to know"

She needed to run away. The perfect love, the innocent kisses. Yes, he was innocent, too. They couldn't be right for each other. He was so innocent and naive, and she was so drastically different. She would hurt him. She knew she would. It was only a matter of time. It was no wonder that he was taking himself away.

"You'll make it

You'll make it

Just don't go forsaking yourself

No one can stop you

You know that I'm talking to you"

There was no hope. There couldn't ever be any hope. Nothing could get better. It would be her and her tears and her piano for the rest of her life. Hopefully, it wouldn't be much longer. But she was young, usually healthy, stronger than she ever gave herself credit for. The days would be long. She would probably die from her heart, broken so many times in so many places. How could it still beat when she had been through so much pain? "When there's no one else

Look inside yourself

Like your oldest friend

Just trust the voice within

Then you'll find the strength

That will guide your way

If you will learn to begin

To trust the voice within"

A voice suddenly whispered quietly behind her. "There is always hope. Hope, my little one. Never give up." She turned, but no one was near. The same familiar voice sang out to her, matching the notes that she still hit on her piano even as she glanced around. The words were in French, though: "La jeune fille, ne pleurent pas. J'aurai raison ici quand votre monde commence à tomber." Then, because she didn't understand French, the voice sang the same notes once more, this time in clear English. "Young girl, don't cry

I'll be right here when your world starts to fall"