you can do magic [T.L]

Darling, if you'd only try

I wake up in my old room. I sit up and look around.

It's kinda weird being back here, when I haven't been here in so long.

I get up and walk to my bag to take out some sweatpants and a hoodie. I put it on, put my phone in my pocket and walk out of my room. As I walk down the hallway to the living room, I hear a vague sound of an acoustic guitar. I stop at the doorway and almost immediately feel the tears forming.

Clem and Emma are sitting on the sofa. Clem is playing on my mum's old guitar.

She gave it to me when I was 15.

Emma turns her head to look at me.

"Are you okay?" She asks. Clem looks over at me.

"Yeah. It's just... Where did you find it?" I ask.

"I saw it in the basement. Dad said I could have it in my room if I was really careful with it." She says.

"Sorry, am I not allowed to play on it?" Clem says.

"No, It's fine. It's just... It was my mums." I say.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know. It's beautiful, though." He says, as he is about to put it away.

"Yea, it really is. You can play, it's okay. I trust you. What were you playing?" I ask, as I walk closer to them.

"Ceasefire." He says, putting the guitar back in his lab.

"It's my favourite." Emma says.

"It's a great song." I say, as I sit down on the other side of Emma. I sit sideways and pull her closer to me, so her back is leaning against my chest. I put my arms around her, and she looks up at me with a smile. I plant a small kiss on her forehead. She giggles, before she looks back at Clem. I look at him and give him a small nod, for him to play. He starts playing 'Ceasefire' from the start and surprises me by starting to sing too.

I know he does background vocals, but I didn't know he was this good.

This is everything I need. This moment right here. Just sitting here, singing with the 2 most important people in my life.

When the song is over, I have the biggest smile on my lips.

"Can I pick the next song?" Clem asks, looking at Emma.

"Yes, of course." She says with a smile. He looks down at the guitar and plays a few chords, before he mumbles 'okay'.

He starts playing 'if you'd only try'

Emma starts singing and I can't help but sing too.

At the last chorus, he looks up at me.

"I could swim in your eyes
And I can tread the tears you cry
You could make it out alive
Darlin', if you'd only try
Don't slide down the spiral and thoughts in your head
I don't want you to lose your place
In the game that we call life
Darlin', if you'd only try." He sings to me. I look at him with tears in my eyes. He gives me a warm smile and finishes the song.

I mouth 'thank you' to him and wipe a tear away.

"Are you okay?" Emma asks, as she looks up at me.

"Yeah, don't worry." I say.

"It's a beautiful song, Clem. Did you write it?" My dad asks from the doorway.

"Thank you. Uhm, Tommy wrote it a few years back." Clem says.

The sound of his name stings my chest a little and an instant feeling of regret hits me.

I did it for his safety. I remind myself.