A Promise Across Time [Completed]

In the Silence of Forever (1965)

June 1965
Sweden

***FRIDA

The first time I heard Raven sing was a moment that felt both surreal and deeply poignant. The evening had settled into a comfortable hush, the soft glow of the lamps casting a warm light over the living room. I had been working on some music arrangements when the sound of Raven's voice reached me from the adjacent room. The rich, velvety tones of her singing cut through the quiet like a beam of moonlight, instantly drawing me in.

Setting aside my work, my heart raced with anticipation. Raven had always been a source of fascination for me. Ever since she arrived, her talent at the piano had been nothing short of extraordinary. But the thought of her singing—something we had only speculated about—added an exciting new layer to her prodigious gifts.

Quietly, I tiptoed down the hallway towards the room, where Raven was lost in her own world. The door was slightly ajar, and I peered inside, careful not to disturb her. There she was, sitting at the piano I had bought a couple of months ago, her fingers dancing effortlessly over the keys. Her voice, both powerful and tender, filled the room with a melody that seemed to transcend time itself.

"How does a moment last forever?" she sang, her voice weaving through the notes with an emotional depth that took my breath away. "How can a story never die? It is love we must hold onto, never easy, but we try. Sometimes our happiness is captured, somehow, our time and place stand still. Love lives on inside our hearts and always will."

I stood there, entranced by the haunting beauty of her performance. Each word was delivered with such sincerity and passion that it felt as if the song was speaking directly to my soul. Raven's singing was more than just a display of technical skill—it was a profound expression of her inner world. Her voice, young, innocent - untainted.

"Minutes turn to hours, day to years and gone
But when all else has been forgotten
Still our song lives on..."

As the final notes of the song lingered in the air, I felt an overwhelming urge to share this incredible experience with Grandma Arntine. The joy and excitement bubbling inside me were too great to keep to myself. Carefully stepping back from the door, I made my way to the kitchen where Grandma was preparing dinner.

"Grandma!" I called out, unable to hide the enthusiasm in my voice. "You have to come quickly. Raven is singing, and it's just... it's incredible!"

Grandma looked up from her task, her eyebrows raised in curiosity. "Incredible, you say? What's going on?"

"There's no time to explain," I said, grabbing her hand and leading her towards the music room. "You have to hear this for yourself."

We reached the door just as Raven's song was drawing to a close. I gently pushed it open, and we both stood there, spellbound by the sight before us. Raven was still at the piano, her eyes closed in a moment of quiet reflection. The air was thick with the lingering echoes of her voice.

Grandma's eyes widened as she took in the scene. She moved closer to the piano, a look of amazement spreading across her face. "My word," she murmured, her voice filled with awe. "I had no idea she could sing like this."

I nodded, unable to contain my smile. "I didn't either. It's like she's been hiding this incredible talent all along. The way she sings—"

Grandma cut me off with a gentle smile. "It's truly remarkable. Her voice has such depth and emotion. It's as if she's pouring her heart into every note."