Heart Me

4

I.

Seattle

The house was silent and the lights in the living room were dimmed. The girls asked him to stay with his parents and he let them and Zane phoned saying he'd stay a little longer with his friend. Stone always profited of his time alone to create. Usually, he would sit down in the studio he had in the basement but that night he preferred the comfort of the couch and his living room. A glass of red wine resting on the coffee table. His mobile was his recording tool that night too, though it only brought him memories of his conversation with Iris a couple of hours ago every time he looked at it or managed it. Stone scratched his tired eyes, his glasses resting right beside the glass even if his vision was really poor without them. Stone rested his elbows on his knees after and supported his head with his hands as he leaned forward. The anguish... the pain... divorce was a difficult decision to go through.

"Fuck..." He whispered frustrated.

He was struggling to come to terms with the end of his marriage. The feeling of failure weighed heavily on him. Many times, he sat alone lost in his thoughts and feeling incredibly sad. Iris had no idea how he felt about it all. His love for her was like a rose in full bloom, delicate yet strong, beautiful yet thorny. It was a love that transcended time and space, a love that knew no bounds. He adored her with every fiber of his being, cherishing every moment they spent together. Her smile lit up his world and her touch sent shivers down his spine. He would gaze into her eyes for hours on end, lost in their depths. His love for her was pure and true, unwavering even in the face of adversity. It was a love that would last forever, an eternal flame burning bright within his heart. In short, his love for her was nothing short of magical - an unbreakable bond that would stand the test of time. He would never love anyone else. He was sure of that.

"Get a fucking grip, Stone." He said to himself, getting up and approaching the window.

The street was a desert except for the rain that fell on the ground. He stuck his hands on the pockets of his trainers and worried momentarily that Zane friend's mother was going to drive to bring him back home, but it wasn't a far drive and he should be arriving soon. Stone read the time on the watch of his wrist; it was past 9.30 pm. He questioned if he should call Zane, but then decided not to. Iris and him always agreed on giving them space and some freedom even if it was a controlled freedom.

He looked outside again. The rain tapping on the window and wind whistling was a classic symphony of nature that was great if you were cozily in your house as he was. The gentle pitter-patter of raindrops on the glass created a soothing melody that lulled Stone into a peaceful slumber. The wind whistling through the trees of the garden added to the symphony, creating an ethereal atmosphere that was both calming and mysterious. The raindrops seemed to be dancing in unison with the wind, creating a mesmerizing rhythm that warmed up his soul somehow. Iris came to his mind unwanted. They used to love to cuddle whenever they had a night like that. If the kids weren't home, they would watch a movie, have some wine, and make love without fearing one of them would run into them. Stone winced as she invaded his thoughts once more and he stepped away from the window.

He came back to the couch, had a sip of his wine, and grabbed his guitar again, resting it on his lap, and he started strumming away, lost in thoughts. Letting passion and creativity flow through him, his fingers moved effortlessly across the strings, creating a beautiful melody that came, as usual, from deep within his soul. He saw the lights of a car stopping outside and seconds later he heard the front door opening, but he didn't stop playing. His heart quieted though, as he knew Zane was safe. By the corner of his eyes, he saw Zane stopping near the living room's door and just stayed there watching and listening to him. As he finished playing, Stone looked up at him with a smile on his face.