Reticent

Intimacy in Music

George woke in the middle of the night with a coughing fit. He slept at the bed of the pond, though with the discomfort in his chest, he swam to the surface. Moonlight graced the water, gently reflecting off the ripples George caused. His violent noise disturbed the sleeping wildlife. It tore up his throat.

His chest still ached after he finally caught his breath. What was wrong? Maybe he was spending too much time above the water. Maybe his lungs weren't used to being used so much. Especially when caught in conversation with Dream. Certainly, he would just have to get used to it. Build endurance, or whatever. George didn't want to stop talking to his new friend just because his lungs had gone unused for some time.

Once George's breathing had calmed, he swam back down to the bottom of the pond, exhausted. He disregarded the incident entirely. Probably just irritation anyway. Nothing more.

A few days later, Dream returned late in the afternoon with his phone. George greeted him joyfully.

"Welcome back~" He cooed. Dream smiled at him and waved, phone in hand.

"Happy to see me?" Dream asked smugly.

George rolled his eyes. "What have you got there?"

Dream raised an eyebrow, but quickly recalled where George came from and where he lived now. "It's a phone. Come out of there and sit with me, I'll show you."

George lifted himself up from the water and pulled himself to the bankside where Dream sat. Though dripping, he moved close and looked over Dream's shoulder at the strange device in his hand.

He's so close.

Dream swiped on the device and it lit up in response. George merely watched in awe. Dream pressed on an icon which opened another screen.

"Do you know what music is?" Dream asked hesitantly. There was so much about each other's cultures the two could only guess on. So much different about them, yet they shared this space and shared with each other.

"I know what my music is like. I don't think I've ever heard human music."

"You're in for a treat then~" Dream scrolled through one of his playlists until he found the song he wanted to share. I Hear a Symphony by Cody Fry was the first he played. "Here, listen to this."

George listened.

The singer's voice was soft and calm, providing a slow introduction. After his verse, an instrument took its turn. Though George had never heard the instrument before, he quite enjoyed how it echoed the energy of the vocals. He found the tone quite appropriate for the setting. When the vocals started again, more instruments had joined to support the gentle lyrics. After the second verse, the instruments complimented each other until they began swelling into a glorious impact, where the singer returned stronger, more passionate and continued the crescendo. Until finally, after a moment of rest, he closed the song with almost a whisper.

The song finally finished and Dream looked to George. "What did you think? It's one of my favorites."

George looked up from the phone to Dream, his face a bit flushed. "I don't understand how that much sound came out of that box," he started. "but I loved it. The song was so beautiful."

Dream smiled. "I agree," he said softly. George felt the pang in his chest return for a moment. It was a little bit sharper than usual. Maybe he was imagining it.

Dream shared a lot more music with George. He showed songs that were fast and aggressive, gentle and loving, solemn and hurt, and everything in between. Eventually, George found himself leaning against Dream, lost in the music and warmth. He listened to the lyrics in peace and comfort. Dream wrapped an arm around George and held him close.

The two stayed like this for hours, Dream singing softly along to his playlist while George listened contently. George even dozed off a few times. Dream did, however, have to go home just as the night began to fall.

"George~" Dream cooed softly. "I have to go home soon. You gotta get up." George stirred, groggy.

"Stay... You're warm..." George murmured.

Dream chuckled. "I'll come back tomorrow, okay?"

"Promise?"

"Yes, I promise."

George moved off of Dream and slipped into the water, the shallows being warmed by the sun. He watched Dream stand and wave to him, which he reciprocated, then walk back up the deer trail and disappear behind the trees. George, still half asleep, then turned and dove to the bottom of the pond and quickly dozed off.

Dream did, in fact, return the next day just as he promised. George stayed in the water.

"You gonna come up here? Or stay in there?" Dream asked playfully.

"I always go up there," George stated simply. "It's way too hot today. Why don't you come in here?"

"I suppose I could but I didn't bring anything for that. And to be fair, I can't breathe in there like you can."

"I won't let you drown." George rolled his eyes.

Dream considered this, then gave in. "Alright, fine. I trust you."