The Chairs Between Us

Festival

"Dominic, it looks fine don't worry."

Liam was at my house with me getting ready for festival.

I was becoming worried people are going to see the long scar down my arm; as it was poking out of the cuff of my jacket. You can barely see it but my mind just focusing on it and flashing back to that night.

I sighed in frustration, "It looks horrible. I can't get rid of it even when I cover it up."

My brother sat on my bed, "Everyone is going to think you are a crazy suicidal teenager."

I thought I got rid of you... Never mind just shut up.

Liam seemed to know he was here again and placed his hand on the side of my face, "Don't listen to him. You are perfect."

I told Liam about my brother because I kept talking randomly and Liam wouldn't take no for an answer.

I leaned into his touch and cleared my mind.

My brother disappeared.

"Thank you." I kissed his forehead and grabbed my suit jacket, "We should get going. Mr. Bennet will explode if we are late." 

A crowd was forming outside waiting to get tickets as we bypassed them into the orchestra room. 

We were blasted with the sound band and string players warming up. A few, like always, were just freaking out with nerves and running around.  

Liam grabbed my hand pulling me into one of the practice rooms and cut out some of the sound by closing the door. 

He began to unpack viola and fix his bow tie in one of the mirrors, "Why does everyone always go crazy when before concerts start..."

His voice began to sound awfully like my brother's. Then, I saw my brother in the mirror instead of Liam.

I grabbed my head as I got a giant headache. 

Please just stop. Why now? 

"Oh how I have missed playing at festivals. This reminds of that night, Dominic."

Please, leave me alone!

"Oh come on Dominic. You remember that night. We were so eager to get to that festival. We were in a room just like this when we called mom. If only we had just skipped that competition. All of it wouldn't have happened... The car hitting us... the sirens of the ambulances..."

Shut up!

"Hey, Dominic. Are you okay?"

Liam was staring at me, concerned. 

"He was here and you were gone... My head starting hurting... He wouldn't shut up..."

Liam pulled me into a hug, "It's okay. I am here. He is gone."

I shook my head, "But he will never be gone, Liam! I am stuck with him."

My body was shaking and I couldn't stop.

I didn't even notice that I was crying until he wiped tears from my face.

"Listen, I need you to stay strong for me now. We will deal with it one step at a time but, for now we have to go play. We aren't going to repeat last time right?"

I nodded, calming down a bit, "Yeah. Definitely not going to do that again."

We both laughed and I grabbed my viola.

I felt a lot better when we stepped out on stage and went to our seats. 

Our group pieces flew by quickly and I was backstage with Liam again, awaiting our duet.

He grabbed my hand and smiled, "We are going to do amazing. Just watch me and think of nothing else."

Our names were called out and we were greeted with thunderous applause. 

We bowed and set our violas on our shoulders.

Breathe.

Remember all the practice.

We both stared each other down as with lifted our bows and started the piece.

The music echoed throughout the theater and up to the judges sitting in the balcony. Their faces were shocked as we played and everyone was pulled into our music.

My brother was sitting in the front row, smiling, "You sound amazing Dominic."

I ignored him. We moved together and were in perfect sync. 

Although the piece sounded like we were fighting; we made it sound like we were dependent on each other.

 We were working together to create each sound. 

Never straying away from each other.

As the last rung through the hall, the audience erupted in applause. 

Even the judges were cheering. 

We both bowed and Liam kissed me, making everyone cheer even louder. 

Now we just need to repeat that for competition.