The Pianist

Chapter Ten

"You're absolutely magical," Molly said, her smile widening. She took a hesitant step towards her friends, but paused nervously. She was afraid to startle them, however, she longed to be near them again. Molly wondered if the birds still remembered her. The chances of that though were incredibly slim.

She was going to try anyway.

"Hello, my birds," Molly whispered as she stepped closer to them. She leaned closer to the mangy looking doves. It bothered her how neglected they had become. "I've missed you guys so very much," She leaned closer still, and she was slightly started when they fluttered their wings and attempted to take flight. Molly took a few steps back as quickly as she could, "They don't remember me."

Something soft prodded her arm, and Molly noticed a piece of bread in Gerard's palm, extended out towards her, "Remind them."

Molly took the bread between her fingers and very, very gingerly offered it out to the one of the doves. The dove paused, tilting his head as if questioning the sincerity of the offering, and then, snatching it greedily in his beak and pecking it apart. The other doves fluttered in excitement, a few flocking the first dove, attempting to steal away a grain. Molly smiled sympathetically and took another piece from Gerard's hands. "Now, now, silly doves," She hummed towards her old friends, "There's plenty for you all."

Gerard chuckled from where he stood, watching Molly feed the doves. "They positively adore you, Ms. Valentine," He said softly, retaining his distance from the birds.

Molly turned and motioned him over. "Come here, come here, Gerard. Come here," She said, grinning with enlightenment as she offered her hand towards the man standing rigidly by the glass wall behind him, "Please?"

"I do not want to frighten them," He said stiffly, scarred fingers gripping the bread. He stood still like a statue, rigid and un-moving.

Molly huffed loudly, faking frustration. "Why, Gerard, don't make me become cross with you," She muttered, wagging her finger in a vague imitation of her nanny that Gerard wouldn't be able to understand. It was a joke only she could appreciate.

Gerard smiled shyly and took a cautious step forward, then another, and another, until he was beside Molly. He shook as he watched the birds, hands around the bread. All the money in the world could not prepare Molly for what would happen next.

At once, the birds took flight from the ledge, a rain of white wings hitting the air. There was a moment of complete silence as the two stared at the vacant ledge. They both took a step forward and peered over the side of the balcony and no doves could be seen. Then, suddenly, there was a rush of wings. Molly gasped, taken by surprise and blinked, turning towards the motionless and silent Gerard. On his body, perched on his shoulders, head, and arms, there were the doves. They perched, hooting gleefully from where the stood, happy about about their new-found stand. Gerard's eyes were wide, and his hands were shaking even more so, and the bread had dropped to the ground . Molly could barely believe what she saw. She took a step back, wishing to en-grain this image into her mind.

"They do not fear me," Gerard whispered, his voice barely audible as the doves pecked at his clothing, "I do not understand. They... They should fear me." Molly still didn't dare to speak, she could only stare and press a hand over he mouth. He was so beautiful standing there, the doves surrounding him so serenely. He looked like an angel, a perfect, wonderful angel. Gerard raised his eyes, and he saw Molly staring at him with her hand over her mouth, "I do not understand."

Molly didn't either. She hesitantly stepped forward, her breath shaking, and she extended her hand towards the doves. She thought, certainly, they would be frightened by her hand so close, but they were not, and their tiny talons stayed rooted on the pianist. Molly then did what she had always wanted to do. She picked the closest dove and ran her fingers across his soft, white back. The dove cooed, and turned it's head about randomly, but still did not seem to want to move.