Amor Vincit Omnia

✝Chapter 31 - Wait

I woke with a jolt. I think I just fell down some stairs in a dream. It was dark and I was in my bed alone. I glanced over the alarm clock on my bedside and noticed it was two o'clock in the morning.

I slowly got out of the bed, grateful for whatever woke me up. I could hear faint notes from the piano.

Phil sat in a bubble of light as he played. He was concentrated, playing beautifully, lost in the melancholy of the music. I hesitated, not wanting to interrupt him. He looked lost, sad even. I moved cautiously towards him. He glanced up at me and frowned before his gaze turned to his hands.

''Why are you up?'' He asked.

''Why are you?'' I retorted.

''Couldn't sleep.'' He glanced up, tears in his eyes.

''What's wrong?'' I asked, worried.

''Why do you care?'' He spat. I noticed a bottle of whiskey at the edge of the piano. Great he's been drinking, that explains his rude attitude.

''Because I don't like seeing you like this.'' I admitted.

''Well I can't sleep.'' He frowned once more as a trace of irritation flashed across his face.

I ignored his facial expression and very bravely sat down beside him on the piano stool, placing my head on his bare shoulder to watch him play the piano.

He paused fractionally, and then continued playing, a beautiful piece.

''That's beautiful.'' I whispered.

''I didn't mean to wake you.''

''You didn't. Play another one.''

He started playing slowly and deliberately. I felt the movement of his hands in his shoulders, as I leaned against him and closed my eyes. The sad, soulful notes echoed off the walls.

''What happened to us, Phil?'' I asked, tears streaming down my face. ''We used to tell each other everything, now I feel like I barely know you.''

''That makes two of us.'' He sniffed.

''I miss us, Phil. The happy ones, the ones we were before-

''Before, we met strangers.'' He finished for me, still playing to the end of the piece. ''I tried my best, but you pushed me away and now you lost me.'' He breathed, slowly getting up from the piano stool, leaving me alone in my own thoughts.

I followed his steps.

''Do you want me to leave?'' I asked.

''What?'' He turned around shocked, looking into my eyes.

''If I did lost you, what's the point of me leaving here?''

''This is your home.'' He muttered.

''Is it?''

''Yes! It will always be your home.'' He said, taking both of my hands into his, placing them on his chest. ''And this? This will always be yours.'' I could feel his heart beating, perfect rhythm. ''I will always love you, Sarah.'' He gazed down at me, and suddenly, he pulled me into his arms and kissed me passionately. It took me completely by surprise and I sensed panic and desperation is his kiss.

''I know this was wrong, but I had a really shitty day and I needed that.'' He murmured against my lips, still pinning my hands to his chest.

''I don't want to leave.'' I admitted.