Priscilla

S2 ⭒ Episode One

*Instrumental*
♪ Clair De Lune • Claude Debussy.

PASSION ISN'T ALWAYS PRETTY

I have a habit of crushing dreams.

My father wanted me to follow in his footsteps and become a carpenter, to one day take over his own shop. My mother put me in piano lessons at age five to influence me to become a concert pianist of classical tunes.

I became a Pornstar instead.

And for a long time, they didn't understand why I'd do such a thing. Why I'd want to throw away my life and my body and make a brand for myself based upon my sex appeal.

Until they saw my first paycheck.

What they and others fail to understand, is that I'm good at what I do and while some call my confidence narcissism, there's a reason why I am where I am. I know, they know it, and Priscilla knows it.

Which is why I'm not surprised when she comes back.

She made quite the exit.

Two days ago, she took some of her things and told me she was going to sleep in 'The Living Room' and I'd not seen much of her since.

She thinks she's being quiet. She thinks that under the soft, but echoing sound of piano keys under my fingers as I play Ravel's piece 'Une Barque sur l'ocean' on her piano, I can't hear her heels against her plush rug.

And I know it's her. I can smell her perfume.

But, I don't turn around and catch her. I don't rush to finish the song. I keep playing and keep my focus on the keys. It's been so long since I've touched a piano, but I've been playing for over twenty seven years, it's like riding a bike.

It's easy to get lost in the music and it feels like it did when I was fifteen and playing 'Clair De Lune.' The melody, the rhythm, the motion, the fluidity of it all. Nothing else feels more satisfying than playing a song the whole way through.

I play the final note and my fingers slide off of the keys.

I sit up straight and look at her reflection in the window in front of me, "Green tights today."

She shifts like she's surprised I know she's there and then takes a step closer, quietly clearing her throat, "I'm not here to socialize. I'm here to talk. To... listen."

She sounds like she's grinding it out with her teeth, but I expect hesitancy from her first and foremost, "You say that I need to accept change and that I'm boring or whatever, so, I'd like to understand your way of things. You said so yourself, we have no choice but to work together. I can respect you so long as you offer me the same."

I turn around on the bench and face her; my eyes doing their natural sweep of her figure, "I never said you were boring. Nor would I ever. I think you're a very vibrant woman."