The Ties That Bind

All of You

Night falls fast.
Today is in the past.

Blown from the dark hill hither to my door
Three flakes, then four
Arrive, then many more.

-Excerpted from "Not So Far as the Forest" by Edna St. Vincent Millay

===

How's the new song coming?

Mariana groaned as her phone rang, notifying her of Katrina's message and interrupting the mindless rhythm that she had been tapping in an attempt to find a hook.

Picking it up, she quickly typed out a response.

Great. :-)

You know that doesn't fool me, right?

A moment later:

Mar. We've been roommates for two years, writing partners for six. You can tell me.

Mariana let out a long sigh, and instead of typing out another message, hit the green call button instead.

"Glad you've finally decided to acknowledge my existence," Katrina said without preamble. "Now, spill. What's going on?"

Nearly wishing that she had chosen to continue the conversation via text, Mariana shrugged. "Nothing. Songwriter's block. You know how it is."

"I do. And I know that you never have blocks. You wrote three number-one hits in as many weeks."

Less. "This is different."

"The heck it is. You haven't written anything in three months."

"Not true-"

"Anything decent. Anything record-worthy," Katrina amended. "You know what I mean, Mar. What's going on?"

Mariana stared out her window at the gathering darkness, wondering what to say.

Wondering what she could say.

"Mar?"

"I'm here."

It looked like it was going to snow soon.

"Well?" Katrina prompted. "Mar, come on. We both know the best way to work through a block is to-"

"-talk it out," they said together, and a slight smirk found its way onto Mariana's face. "I was never fond of Dr. Khaled's mantras."

"There is truth to this one, though."

"Have you tried it?"

"Yes, actually. It works. Talk to me, Mariana."

Talk to her.

If only she could.

"I wouldn't even know where to start."

"Try the beginning." Mariana heard static on the other end as Katrina settled herself. "We have all the time in the world."

The beginning.

Where had it all begun?

"I suppose it started back home."

"Rockport?"

"Rockport," Mariana agreed. "It was such a normal morning..."

♪♪♪

"You have soccer tonight, and Mar-"

"I have guitar!"

"We know," Catalina added. "Just get going, would you?"

"Just... No te olvides, mis hermanas. You are always so overconfident."