For Elise.

Chapter 1

When I was little, my dad used to take me into downtown NYC to play the huge Grand Piano in Time Square. It was one of my favourite things in the whole world.

Him and I would take the train into the city when the night was just starting, when the college students would be going to a bar, the men in dark suits and briefcases would be talking on the phone, and the excited tourists were taking photos and smiling. I loved seeing all the people, living their own individual lives. I remember how tired I was from taking the train and walking all over NYC. With my short legs and less than swift strides trying to keep up with his fast pace.
"Why do we have to walk so fast?" I asked him.
"Because this is how New Yorkers walk." Dad told me, "You have to walk fast so nobody runs you over!"
This scared me so much that I pushed myself to walk faster. Even though every step made my heels hurt.
My dad always made me wear a fancy vest and tie, with matching dress shoes that gave me blisters. I loved how it looked, I hated how it felt.
However it would all wash away once I reached the piano. It was a beautiful piano, it was shiny and glistening. It was clean, and when I looked in through the top, I could see my reflection.
My dad would walk up to the piano and sit down on it. He would press down on each key, I never knew why, I think it was to test that it still worked?
When he finished 'Testing' the keys, he would look over to me.
"Well, come on August, these songs won't play themselves." He said winking at me. "Here, I brought the sheet music if you want?"
"No, I don't need it. I've already memorized it." I say, pushing the paper away.

I sat at the piano, and took a deep breath. My fingers moved automatically, the beautiful sounds of the piano going in through my ears and around my head. Every time I would play it felt like I was floating on air.
A crowd started to form around me as I played. People taking photos, videos. Dancing and singing in the streets and placing coins and bills on top of the piano. It was an amazing feeling that I wish would last forever.
As soon as it was over, a round of applause and whistles washed over Time Square. I exhaled as everyone left to go about their day. I stood up and placed all the money into my pocket.
"Another good performance today August!" My Dad said as he gave me a big bear hug. "You want to go get a hotdog before heading home?"
"Sure." I responded.
Dad turned to me and looked me straight in the eye. I looked at him back refusing to back down and blink. Daring him to blink first. He didn't back down. I lost.
"Promise me you will never stop playing music." My dad said, holding out his pinky.
"I promise!" I responded holding onto his pinky.

I wish I could say I kept that promise.