𝐡𝐞𝐫 | dolores x oc (wlw)

03

As you sat on your bed, you took the pick in your hands, feeling its shape, admiring the artwork on it.

Picking up the guitar from the corner of the room, you strummed a few chords, realising it is way out of tune.

After a few turns of pegs, you managed to make it sound decent as you began to strum a song your mother had taught you.

It was an old song that you remembered very well.

Three years ago

You danced with your dark red skirt in your hands to the tune your mother played. It was an old song your abuela used to also sing.

Your mother's sweet voice filled the air,

~"Kuando el Rey Nimrod al kampo salia,
mirava en el syelo i en la estreyeria.."~

You danced around freely to the rhythm of the song, giggling.

The heels you were wearing made a clicking sound against the ground, adding to the music.

~"..padre kerido, padre bendicho, luz de.."~

"Mamá, look!" you spun around and your mother praised your talent, applauding you as you finished.

Out of breath, you sat down at the table and had the baklawa and glass of milk that was put out just before.

Your mamá kissed your forehead and sat back down with the guitar, strumming random tunes that came to mind.

These kinds of moments were your favourite and with a grin you finished your food, listening to your mother's music.

These were your best memories.

Everything was perfect.

Home.

You continued with the familiar tune, losing yourself in the music and memories.

The familiar strings perfectly coordinated themselves with your pick and fingers changing the chords smoothly.

It was one of those things nobody could take from you.

That feeling of family, home, belonging.

Now, all that was left was an empty space in your heart, a void that couldnt be filled.

As the song finished, you felt hot tears stream down your cheeks, onto your hands, guitar and your skirt.

Nothing could bring your old life back.

Nothing could bring her back.

That was the worst of all, no matter how many tears you cried, no matter how many nights you stayed awake thinking of her, none of it would bring her back.

Without noticing, the door creaked open and a certain girl in red appeared in front of you.

Her eyebrows furrowed as she look at your state. "Oh dear, oh dear, que pasa?" she whispered, concern laced in her words.

With a shaky sob, frantically trying to wipe away your tears, unable to hide your red puffy eyes, you replied, "Nothing, nothing's wrong."

"You're a very bad liar, you know that, I can clearly see something is bothering you."

No reply, you just looked down at the ground.

"Well, do you want to talk about it?"

Shaking your head, "I don't think I really want to, right now," replying in a low voice.

She nodded her head in understanding and sat on the bed next to you, she put her arm around your shoulders.

"Would you like me to leave?"

Shaking your head 'no', appreciating the comfort she provided you with, you leaned your head on her shoulder.

You sat there together, like that, for a while in a comfortable silence, like the calm after a storm, until Dolores broke it, "So you play guitar?"

You hummed in approval as she picked it up, a sparkle in her eye, "I love music and instruments, you know, I can hear them everywhere since I can hear the whole village at once, and I have to say, yours has been one of my favourites."

"Thank you, do you play?"

"I mostly don't play instruments myself, my ears are too sensitive sometimes but I absolutely adore guitar."

You gently took your guitar from her and started playing around with the strings until you found a sound and rhythm that you remember as a lullaby you used to have sung to you.

The words floated in and out of your mind as you familiarised yourself with the sounds of a time long ago, your heart breaking a tiny bit more with every beat, every note.

You closed your eyes until the song ended and opened them to see Dolores with her chin in her palms and her elbows resting on her knees as she watched intently.

She rose from her position, still sitting next to you, and praised your talent, "Wow, you really do play beautifully," in her quiet voice.

You felt your face become warm with a visible blush that you tried to hide by looking away, hoping she didn't catch on.

Just then, you felt a warm hand touch your own. Looking up, you saw Dolores looking in your eyes, "You can always come to me to talk, just know that, I'll always gladly listen."