I flash her a smile and dash up the stairs onto the stage. Fingers hovering over the keys, my heart once again pounding, I fix my attention on her. “This one isn’t for Sabotage. It’s your song. About you,about us. You get to decide what happens to it, whether I shove it in a drawer or sell it…anything. It’s up to you.”
She nods, worrying her lip, her eyes shining. So, I play.
The melody spills out, low and haunting, building with each verse. The theater’s acoustics amplify the music, my voice. The lyrics tell our story, a confession in every note.
Shadows and sorrows were my only friends,
Companions I never expected to have.
Kept love at a distance, too scared to claim,
Like Hades, I wanted to stay in the dark.
A girl with eyes so blue, even the twilight sky envious,
Slipped through the cracks, found me in the dark,
And I was no longer lost.
I am the dark, but she is the flame
That pulls me from shadows and stitches my scars.
I wanted to keep her, to make her stay,
But I ended up ruining it all.
I stand on my knees, the chains in my hands,
My heart has a brand of her name burned into it.
It’s always been her, it’s always been us,
And I was a fool not to say it aloud.
Forget-me-not in her hair, she watches me from afar.
I beg her to stay, like Hades, I’m afraid she’ll run.
And she only smiles, taking my hand and threading her fingers through mine.
My Persephone stayed, and I found the sun,
And we are finally free.
When I finish,silence lingers. I wipe my sweaty palms on my knees and stand.
Riley sits, spine straight, wide-eyed, her hand pressed to her belly.
I swallow the lump in my throat as I descend the stairs. Once I’m in front of her, I crouch and place my hands on her knees. “I love you, Riley. I’ve never experienced anything like this, and it’s still surreal, but it’s true.” My voice cracks, so I take a few deep breaths to collect myself. “I’m scared I don’t have a fucking clue how to be what you need. But I love you, and I’m terrified I’ll never get a chance to be with you.”
She places her hand on mine, eyes welling with tears.
“And not just because of our baby. I love her already, more than I can even say. But you—” I drink her in. She’s so exceptionally beautiful, so soft, somine. “I want you for you. I want to build a family with you. A home. I don’t want to just be in your life. I don’t want to just exist beside you. I need you.”
Her breath hitches, her lips trembling.
Slowly, I stand and hold out my hand. When she takes it, I help her to her feet and cup the back of her head, tilting her face up to mine. My heart hammers against my rib cage, my pulse pounding in my fingertips.
