Heartbreaker in Training

Chapter 7 - Probably the Most Angelic Dude Voice I Have Ever Heard

“You can take her home today. She was just under-oxygenated. She’s fine as long as she keeps the oxygen tank with her and makes sure the tubes stay in.” Lisa, my nurse, said to my mother.

 

“Okay, thank you very much, Lisa.” my mom said back to her, nodding her head down a bit.

 

As soon as I got home, my mom had to go out to the grocery store, so I found myself hobbling over to the grand piano in our front room. I haven’t played in about a year and a half. I was a child prodigy. I played non-stop every day. It was my passion, until my dad left us flat.

 

I put my hands carefully on the keys, not knowing what was to happen. I positioned them in a way I couldn’t remember. My hands started moving up and down the keys with the most beautiful sound. I didn’t know it, but I was playing my favorite song by Ludwig Van Beethoven, Moonlight Sonata. I was lost in the music and I didn’t notice my mom walking in the door.

She was stopped in the doorway holding paper bags full of groceries and staring intently at me as I swayed to the music. Lesley walked out of my room and let the wall hold her up as she also stared me down in complete awe. She knew I played, but she also knew what happened, so she never expected me to ever play again.

As I finally hit the last chord with both my right and left hands, Cb, Gb, Cb, and E, Gb, and Cb, I looked over at my mom to see her in tears. She clapped almost involuntarily. So did Les, but I knew she was a lot more happy than sad about the whole thing.

 

“When did you start playing again, Lori?” my mom asked me.

 

“You remember how I used to play for dad?” She nodded in response. “I started feeling alone, like I had nothing. I don’t know why but I did. And then this,” I gestured to the piano, “happened.” I finished.

 

“Play some more.” Les egged me on. “I miss it.” mom added.

 

I figured I’d play something a little more ‘upbeat’ or whatever. I started playing Mozart’s Sonata K.457 in C Minor, but I couldn’t possibly be that good for the original version, so I played it a little less complicated. It still was one of the hardest pieces I have ever encountered, and mastered in that case.

 

I played piano with mom and Les in their same places for an hour or so, and I was completely in love with being able to actually comprehend my reasons for playing again.

 

After playing Beethoven’s 5th Symphony (all in piano, of course), Les asked me, “So which one are you doing for the talent show? I like the first one, what’s it called?”

 

“It’s called the Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven, and who said I was going to do anything in the talent show?” I answered, stumbling to get up off of the black leather bench.

 

“Well I recorded you so you have to do it or I will be the one entering you!” she snickered back, laughing in my face.

 

“Oh, whatever. As long as you leave me alone about it,I will think.” I said. I honestly didn’t know whether I wanted to do it or not.