The Cursed Music Box

Mexican Rhapsody No.1

  Frida stopped walking and Manny phased through her. She looked at him and crossed her arms. "Would you quit walking so close to me?" She whispered at him and he softly chuckled at her.  

"I find you interesting." He smiled at her and watched her fumble her keys and drop them. Manny began to full blown laugh and he covered his mouth with his hand. Frida rolled her eyes and bent down to pick them up, but Manny beat her to it. "Gotta be quicker than that."

She sighed and held her hand out. He stepped in front of her and slid the key into the lock and stepped away from her, gesturing to the door. "Mujeres Primero." He gave her a welcoming smile and she blushed.

"Well now you're just showing off." She turned the key, keeping her eyes on him and pushed the door open with her shoulder. "So, this is my-" He brushed past her and into the open concept apartment.

  "Wow... it's perfect." He smiled and took in the homey feel of the place. The walls were a soft cool grey and the furniture was brown. The couch was a soft reddish pink.  

She cleared her throat and with a bounce in her step, she turned around to face him. "So, where would you like to live?"

Manny looked at her with parted lips. He had never been asked such a question. He had never been offered to choose anything in his lifetime. Everything had been chosen for him. For once he truly felt free. "Live?"

"Like where would you like your ring to be?" Frida smiled at him and waited for him to respond. She wanted to respect him and asking him where he wanted his belongings seemed like a good place to start.

"Oh, right. Um... where would you like for it to go? You did purchase it." Manny smiled and offered to let her decide. He watched her search around the room with a thoughtful expression. He worried his bottom lip and rubbed the back of his neck.

  "Well... hm. When you were alive.... " Frida sat down on her couch and took her shoes off.   

Silent

"How old are you?" Frida watched him sit up straight and pretend like he was okay, but she knew better.

"Let's see I died in 1918 and I was... twenty-four?" Manny tried to remember his age. He knew how he died in the most vivid way, but his age was a different story. It was fuzzy, while everything else was so clear.

  Frida was busy playing her guitar when she heard the beautiful melody wafting through her apartment. It was enchanting and perfectly played. Shivers ran through her body and she blushed. The familiar tune of Manuel Ponce's  Mexican Rhapsody no 1 filled her ears and she got lost in it. It was beautiful and she found her feet following the sounds that were emanating from her bedroom. "You play?" Her voice scared him and he jumped, causing the keys to miss and the song to stop.