short stories for the soul

coda (short story, original)

tw: discussions and depictions of d*ath, dr*gs (kinda? idk)

quiet, muffled, yet still audible music played in the background. there were white walls in the room, although they might look light gray to some people's eyes. the tile floor was a shade of black, with barely visible silver dots pasted on the floor. there were two brown benches, and on one of those benches sat two people. one of them was a young woman with black shoulder-length hair with teal-colored tips. she had bright blue eyes that would be best and usually were combined with a bright smile, but however, during this day, they were filled with tears instead.

the other lady had her hair tied up into two braids, and her hair color was split into two. the left side was a lime green, and the right side was a rosy pink, and she also had bright green eyes. there were tears streaming down her cheeks as the music kept playing in the background. they both sat together in silence, with the only sound being heard would be a bright, cheery song playing in the background and the occasional sobs from both girls.

"i'm sorry." the green-eyed girl whispered. "you were a great idol, lyra. i'm sorry it had to end like this, with me taking your place, and since you and your songs have been dropping from the charts, you would have to be eliminated. i apologize, i truly don't deserve to be in your place."

"It's okay, irene." the other girl, whose name was lyra, said back. "my songs dropped from the top charts, and i've had very little listeners for the past few days, and that number slowly began to drop to zero, because you are the top idol now. and because you're the top idol, and their attention's all on you and not on me, i would have to disappear, because i am unneeded, and my job here is done. it's only, natural, please don't feel guilty."

"no." irene sobbed. "it can't end this way. i don't deserve to be your replacement. i don't deserve any of their attention. you can tell me that's it's natural all you want, and that it's going to happen one way or another, but i can't take this. the thought of replacing someone else, and after i've outlived my usefulness, being replaced is just...i don't know how to describe it. it's just not right."

"no matter how much you fight, or rebel, that's just what happens. that is the rule and we cannot stop it." lyra replied. " you will replace me, and when the time comes, you will be replaced, and while another idol takes your place, you will be eliminated. it's like a song playing on a playlist, once its coda is done and the song ends, another one plays like nothing happened, and you can't stop that. my coda is done, and you're the next song in the playlist. instead of being sad about it and grieving for the previous song, what you can do instead, is make the best of it."

and as soon as lyra said those words, the song that was playing in the background finished, and there was complete and utter silence for a few moments. the two girls simply sat together, until lyra spoke up.

"oh my, it seems that the song has finished." lyra said. "thank you, irene, for being the last listener to my song."

irene simply nodded, too captivated by grief to respond. suddenly, a tall woman walks in, with silver grey hair and a doctor's coat, her black heels making a "click, clack" sound on the tiled floor. with a stern voice, she said: "everything is prepared. your song has played for the last time, and now, it's time for you to go, as all your fans attention has now been turned at something else." lyra could've sworn the tall lady was looking at irene.

lyra followed the tall lady into a white door and into a much smaller room. there was a white hospital bed on it, and beside it was a bedside table, and lying on top of it was a syringe with a clear, yet somehow grayish liquid. lyra lied on top of the bed, and closed her eyes. being an idol, singing songs, and making memories with her adoring fans was fun, but now, she was nothing but a former trend, a fad that no one really cares about anymore. she closed her eyes and accepted her demise, while she felt the pain of a needle stabbing through her arm.