The Gifted

Jordyn

We lay in bed. Her eyes are closed as she listens to the world and I listen to music through earbuds. I wonder if the world is going to the same rhythm as the music in my ears.

"What are you listening to, baby?" she softly says. She still has her eyes closed as I look down at her.

"Just music. Do you want to listen?"

She opens her brown eyes and smiles. "Sure."

I gently put an earbud in her ear and she gets surprised. We share a chuckle and she listens with a smile. My heart melts at the wonder running through her expression at this new tech. Well. Earbuds and an MP3 is from the ancient world. It's not as new.

"This is so cool," she says with a wide smile. "What is it? Where does it come from?"

I show the MP3 and she holds it with awe. She presses on the next button and giggles as another song comes in.

She then gasps and says, "I know this song!"

"You do?"

She nods. "I don't know from where but I know it. It's in Spanish."

"Oh. What does it say?"

She hums along as she listens a bit. Then she turns to me and says, "It's talking about love that faded away. That it hurts more than anything."

"Why is the song so upbeat if it has sad lyrics?"

"Because that's the style of music this singer had."

"Really? So even if the lyrics are sad, they stick with their style?" Emms happily nods and I chuckle at her.

She takes off an earbud and her eyes turn sad. "If only our lives could have music to remind us to be better. If only music could be an easier way to listen to each other."

"There aren't much variety of music nowadays then back then. That's why I have this." I lift up my MP3 and put it in her hands. She furrows her brows at this as I say, "I don't have much, but I have this. If anything happens—"

"No. Stop."

Worry crosses her firmness and I give her a gentle smile. I hold her soft cheek and give her lips a kiss. My eyes burn through her like Dom does with everyone as I softly say, "If anything happens, just listen. I'm with you in every song you listen to. I'm in every stroke of a guitar string. I'm your melody. As long as you keep singing, I will be yours no matter how far we are."

Quiet tears fall down her cheeks as she looks down at my MP3. She wipes them away as she lets her smile come back and determination fills her senses as she says, "Nothing will stop us from coming back to each other. We must fight harder. Stand together. We won't let our guard down. No one will tell us who we are or what to do."

I smile at her determined words and I give her cheek a kiss. "That's my girl."

Suddenly, a knock on the door makes us both look up at it. Emms shrugs and I gently sit up.

"Come in!"

As Emms sits up, Mia walks in with a small smile. "Hey, guys."

"Hey, Mia," we say.

"Do you mind if I just get the bag I forgot in Emms's room?"

"Oh yeah!" Emms says with a wide smile. "Voice lady?"

"Yes?" the AI Helper says.

"Could you bring out Mia's bag she forgot?" The wall does a small opening and Mia takes the bag that has appeared. "Thanks, lady."

Mia does a shy chuckle and nods. "Thanks, guys. Sorry for interrupting anything."

"Nah," I say. "We were just listening to music." Emms lifts up the MP3 player with a smile.