But Who Would You Live For?

Sit In Silence

Tyler sat at his piano on the dimly lit stage. His chest was still rapidly lifting and falling from the song they'd played seconds before. The crowd was as quiet as they could be. The occasional sob or I love you scream was the only thing to be heard.

The thousands of waiting fans were practically holding their breaths. Waiting and wondering what song they would be screaming at the top of their lungs next. Tyler's fingers ghosted over the piano keys. He could feel them under the tips. But he didn't press down hard enough to play a note.

He looked over his right shoulder towards the other side of the medium-
sized stage. Barely able to make out his best friend and only other band mate; Josh. His breathing and excited expression seemed to match Tyler's. He knew he was feeling the same exhilaration he was. They were two of a kind when it came to it.

The drummer was waiting on Tyler's cue to start the next song. Tyler turned away from the microphone to clear his throat. Bringing his fingers up to crack his knuckles before hovering them over the keys again. He did it for his own dramatic effect. His fingers weren't stiff. Not yet.

Finally, after what felt like forever, but in reality was no more than a few seconds, he began playing. His finger came down lightly on the F key. The audience's immediate recognition made his heart swell in his chest.

"This one is based on a true story." He muttered in his mic. Everyone screamed in response.

He began singing the words he'd written years ago. His fingers dancing over the too familiar keys. The fans sung along off key just the way he loved it. Josh came in on the drums making him want to dance in his seat. Everything was going perfectly.

"I've had these thoughts so often I ought to replace that slot with what I once bought. Cause somebody stole my car radio and now I just sit in silence."

He jumped up from his place at the piano. The melody stopped but Josh made up for it with the drums. Tyler screamed his ohs into the mic as he ran across the stage. He was already sweating, but he couldn't stay still. Not when there were thousands of people singing his deepest thoughts back to him. Making him feel alive.

He was just glad they were doing an outdoors show. Because outdoor stages were specifically built for outdoor shows. And those kind of stages had side railings.

Tyler didn't hesitate to run back to his side of the stage. His free hand grabbed the railing to test its stability. Deciding it was strong enough to hold him, he began climbing. The crowd went wild like they always did during this part. Their cheers fueling Tyler's rushing adrenaline.

"Hey, you can't do that." Tyler heard someone call from under him.

But he was too invested in his task to pay attention. He kept climbing. Determined to make it to the top. Until he felt a firm hand grab at the bottom of his shoe. Causing his balance to shift slightly. Panicked, he looked down. One of the venue's security guards was trying to get him. His hand tightened on the rail as he tried to kick the man away. But he was persistent. He grabbed Tyler's ankle this time. Yanking harder than necessary.

Tyler reached down to swing at the man with the hand his mic was in. To stop him from pulling on him. But his other hand wasn't strong enough to hold all of his weight up alone. And it slid from the bar.

It felt like everything was happening in slow motion after that. Tyler opened his mouth to scream as his back got closer to the stage. Nothing but a gasp escaped his lips. The security guard held his balance. Tyler making eye contact with the idiot man as his body passed him. His arms swung at his sides in a pathetic attempt to break his fall. The microphone, freed from his grip, hit the stage first. The thump echoed through the speakers in the crowd. The audience cried out in terror. Tyler hit the stage, head first, and blacked out.