The Warning signs

18 | Sophia

A year had flown by since the day Liam and I moved into our apartment in the heart of the city.

Our lives had been a whirlwind of work, friends, and the occasional moments of shared solitude.

We had created a life together, a life that was as beautiful as it was challenging.

One day, as I was getting ready for my piano recital, a tension hung in the air.

Liam had just dropped a bombshell on me.

"What did you just say, Liam?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.

I had heard him correctly, but I was hoping against hope that I had misunderstood him.

"I said I won't be able to go to your play tonight, because my friends will drink tonight," he repeated, his gaze not meeting mine.

His voice was steady, but I could hear a hint of regret.

"But you already said 'yes' last month," I protested, my voice barely above a whisper.

I had been looking forward to this night for weeks, my heart set on having him by my side.

"I already saved you a seat and my parents are expecting you to be there," I added, hoping that the thought of disappointing my parents would make him reconsider.

"Do I hold your hands?" he retorted, a hint of irritation creeping into his voice.

His words stung, a harsh reminder of the growing distance between us.

"What?" I asked, taken aback by his comment.

"You can still play your piano without me, Star," he said, his tone dismissive.

His words felt like a slap in the face, a stark contrast to the supportive and caring Liam I once knew.

"It's been a week since I saw my friends, don't be selfish," he added before I could respond.

I sighed, feeling a lump forming in my throat.

I wasn't being selfish, I just wanted him to be there for me, like he used to be.

He walked away then, leaving me standing alone in the middle of the room. His disappointment was palpable, but so was mine.

I watched him go, my heart heavy with a mix of sadness and frustration.

As the silence of the apartment closed in around me, I couldn't help but wonder how things had changed so much.

Where had the supportive and loving Liam gone? And how had we ended up like this?

I missed the old Liam, the one who would have moved mountains to be there for me.

But as I stood there in the silence of our apartment, I realized that perhaps, that Liam was gone.

And so, with a heavy heart, I returned to my piano.

The keys felt cold under my fingers, the usually comforting melody now a sad reminder of what I had lost.

But I would play, for myself and for the love I still had for Liam, hoping that one day, he would find his way back to me.

Days turned into weeks, and the date of the recital drew nearer.

The piano keys became my constant companions, their black and white contrast a stark reminder of the complexity of emotions I was feeling.

Excitement, nervousness, disappointment — they all played their part in the symphony of my feelings.

I still hadn't heard from Liam. His silence was deafening, filling the spaces between our conversations with a cold emptiness. I missed him, but I was also angry.

Angry at him for not understanding, for not being there for me. But I also understood his need to be with his friends.

We all need our own space, our own time to unwind and relax. It was just unfortunate that our needs had clashed at such a crucial time.

The day of the recital finally arrived. I woke up early, my stomach filled with butterflies.

I practiced one last time, my fingers dancing over the keys, the music flowing from my heart. I was ready.

Or at least, I thought I was.

The auditorium was filled with people — my parents, my teachers, my friends. But there was one empty seat. The seat I had saved for Liam.

I felt a pang of sadness, but I quickly pushed it away. This was my moment, and I was not going to let his absence ruin it for me.

I played my heart out that night. The music flowed from my fingers, filling the auditorium with a melody that was a reflection of my feelings—a mix of joy, sadness, anger, and longing.

The audience applauded, their claps echoing in the large room. But all I could see was the empty seat.

After the recital, my parents hugged me, their words of praise falling on deaf ears.

All I could think about was Liam.

I missed him. I missed his presence, his laughter, his support. But most of all, I missed his understanding.

That night, as I lay in bed, I realized something.

I had let Liam's absence affect me more than it should have. I had let it overshadow my achievement, my moment of glory.

I had been selfish, but not in the way Liam had meant. I had been selfish in letting my feelings for him overshadow my own achievements.

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Scene ib: incorrectlyroce on tiktok