Short Stories

Black and White

My fingers dance across the keys of the piano causing a beautiful melody to ring out. My heart pours out into the song as I let all of the pain and worry slip away just for a little while. I continue to tap my foot on the pedal to the beat of the song. 1,2,3,4. The piano sings as I change chords. Emotion. Emotion is all that you can hear in the piano's song. I keep playing the keys as if my life is perfect and nothing is ever wrong with it. It's not though. Nothing is perfect. No one is perfect. I know I don't have the size zero waist that other girls have. I know I'm not your typical girl that likes shopping or gossiping about the latest fashions. I know this. Why do people have to remind me about these things? Why don't people just leave me alone?

These questions swarm in my head as I close my eyes and lightly tap the keys. 1,2,3,4. 1,2,3,4. My foot continues to tap to the beat as tears well up in my eyes while I continue to think about everything that is happening in my life. The little demons threaten to fall from my eyes, but I hold them back with everything I have. Tears show weakness, and I can't show weakness. I have to be stronger than this because being strong is all I have left.

The piano is an amazing instrument. The beautiful instrument has eighty-eight black and white keys. Two colors that seem so colorless but are actually both full of colors. I always loved how just one of these keys make a note. Several keys, though, create a beautiful sound that fills the room with joy and liveliness. Maybe that's what I need, some joy and liveliness.

The tears in my eyes build up even more with new tears. Memories of my hardest struggles flash in my mind like a slideshow. The pain I felt in those times comes back. The sound of the piano's song fades as I watch the slideshow of hurt feelings, pain,and heartache. I feel my heart break as I watch the memory play out in front of my eyes once again. The hard times may be over, but the memories will always remain and haunt me.

We all have demons that don't need to be shared. We all have secrets. Some worse than others. People deal with everything differently. Some turn to drugs, to smoking, or to drinking. I turn to the piano and music. People may criticize me and bully me to stop. Should I stop? Should I listen to what those people have to say? It's my choice, isn't it?

Do I stand up for what I believe in? Or do I just back down and submit without a fight? What should I do? Every turn I make ends up in just a big circle. Which way do I go? Right or left? Questions pop up in my mind. One after the other, never ending. What should I do?

The questions continue to swarm as I end the song that I'm playing with one last tap on the keys. I look at my hands and clench them into fists before releasing them. I look up from my hands and breathe. My life may never be perfect, but that doesn't mean I can't live it. These struggles that I'm facing are just another hurdle I need to jump over. I might be knocked down some days, but I just need to get back up again, dust myself off, and get ready to fight once again. Go ahead and tell me I can't, then watch me work twice as hard to prove you wrong. Tell me, "Rey, you aren't good enough." I'll prove you wrong. When I'm down on my knees, it's a good time to either give up or pray.

That's what I'm going to do: Pray because nothing can get in my way of what I'm called to do in this world. When I say nothing, I mean nothing. Nothing will get in my way. Nothing is going to stop me. Nothing. Not even some person who thinks they are better than someone else. I'm going to stand my ground and fight back. I can either choose to give up and submit or fight back. I choose to fight back with all I have in me.