Sorrow's Melody

By: Faith Adeline

The door stood in front of her, beckoning her to step across the threshold. Her fingers grasped the doorknob tightly and she closed her eyes. It had been two years. Two long years. She had to be strong, and faced her demons. Finally, she pushed the door open. It creaked with age. She opened her eyes and let out a sob. It was exactly the same, albeit dustier. She walked inside, tears pricking her eyelids.

Her fingers pressed against the ebony top, coming back brown from time. Now, she could see the shine of the piano. "James," she whispered. Music came to her ears, and she closed her eyes once more; letting the memory wrap around her. James and her at the piano, her playing him a new song. . . the smile on his face. She sat on the bench and allowed her tears to fall.

Could she? She put her fingers to the keys and played a simple warm up. A piece of her she'd locked away opened and she was soon playing a song she'd written. It was a happy tune, full of love and life. Laced with hope. Oh, how she'd missed it. That was when the reason why she'd stopped hit her like a ton of bricks. She drew her fingers back and cried. Just when she thought she couldn't cry anymore, new tears formed. Her mind pulled her back to that night. The night she lost her love, her life. It was as if she was transported back to that time, like she was re-living it over again. And the pain started anew.

It tore at her heart, threatening to tear her apart from the inside out. She could hear the sirens, she could smell the blood clinging to her shirt and pants. Behind her closed eyelids she saw his face; that beautifully handsome face, marred with dirt and blood. She tried to say his name but it just wouldn't come out. She reached for him, but couldn't touch him. He was so far away! She glanced at his chest and saw he wasn't breathing, and his skin was getting a strange pallor to it.

Finally she screamed, "James!"

Then she opened her eyes, and saw she was in their music room. Alone. She'd fallen to the floor, her hands on the smooth wood. Why had she survived and not him? He deserved to life! Why had God taken him away from her? It wasn't fair, not at all. She bit her lip and stood, straightening her clothes. Then she sat back at the bench. She shook her head and gave out a little sob.

"I thought I was strong enough, but I'm not. It's so hard living without you James. For two years, I've woken up in the morning wanting to see your face next to me, and it hasn't been there. I can't do this for much longer. I need you." She wasn't really expecting an answer, but the silence still hurt.

Put your fingers on the keys Kris. Play; play like you've never played before. Play for me.

She frowned. No one had spoken. No, it was like a thought in her mind, but not one of hers. She licked her lips and put her fingers back to the keys. Then she played. The music filled the room. What had started off happy, turned tragic and sad. The notes flew from her fingers at such an incredible speed, she was even taken by surprise. But she closed off her thoughts and just played. Through her music, she expressed her sorrow, her pain.

She could almost see him beside her on the bench, his fingers over hers. And she knew, that even thought she couldn't see him, he was there. "I miss you James." She whispered.

And I miss you. I'll never leave you Kris.

She smiled and nodded her head. "You'll never leave me James."

And she played for him. Only him.

A/N: This is based off of my poem, "Sorrow's Melody". I didn't want to change the name, I think it fits both of my works so well. I figured this was a good piece to start off my short story collection. Hopefully you guys enjoyed it. I would've made it longer, but I thought that the end was, well a good place to end. Review and let me know what you think :)
Faith