Flash Fictions by Benjamin D. Togate

Separate Lives

They lived separate lives.

She was an introvert, working as an office employee, he was a musician, performing on stage every other night. While she was out working her ass off for people who didn't appreciate her, he sat at home, on his bed by the window, composing music. The light touches of his fingers on the metallic strings of his guitar created soft, poignant sounds. In his music, he could pour out all his feels until he went out and presented them to the world. He didn't hide them. All the while she drowned hers watching netflix on her phone well into the night.

Neither of them had it hard. They both lived in a small high-rise studio appartment with beautiful views over the city. They both had enough money to get by. But both felt, something was missing. At least sometimes.

They lived door to door from each other, but their lives were so separate, that they had never actually met. Despite being neighbours for over three years. Not that they minded though - she preferred her privacy not knowing the neighbours and he was out most evenings anyway.

Except today. His performance was cancelled at the last minute which not only meant loss of income, it also pissed him off. She was home as always, about to start a new series.

But just before she pressed the play button on her little phone screen she heard it (at 4:01 😉 ). The soft rings of the guitar made her stop in her tracks and listen without making a sound. And then listened some more.

This must have gone on for a while. Because when he was playing, he forgot his surroundings, he forgot the time, he forgot his own problems.

He didn't notice the beautiful sunset outside his window.
She did.
He didn't notice how the coldness slowly crept into the window. She did.
He didn't notice that today he felt lonely.
She did.

But she sat still and listened to the soft guitar sounds the neighbour she never even met played. As if he was playing just for her. And she asked herself for the first time what he - or she - must be like. Was he young or old? Did he wear glasses? Was he sometimes lonely like her?

When the guitar stopped she knew just what to do.

She picked up her phone, turned the volume up and played the sound of applause.

It made her smile.
And him too.