Rehearsal

Part VII

Eddy was sure that his shaking body was giving away that he was awake, but no one came up to him. He had trouble breathing through his silent tears and sobs, but he tried to make his chest's movements as even and slow as possible. He forced himself to look at his friend. It broke his heart. He clenched his fits so that his nails buried in his hands. It hurt but helped him as well. As Brett draw away his hands, Eddy saw his friend's eyes swelled and reddish. Brett looked right back at him. There was so much he wanted to say to him. That he had been so strong and brave and that he admired him for it, how grateful he was to be his friend, that there was nothing else in the world he would rather do in this moment than taking him in his arms. They were still holding eye contact when Eddy formed a sentence with his lips over and over again. A message for Brett and himself:

It's gonna be okay.

Brett was not sure what Eddy was saying. He could just stare back, begging his friend in his thoughts to get him out of here. He did not want to die. He did not want to be shot. But here he was. Probably his last few hours alive. There was so much left he wanted to do. Travelling the world, get married, starting a family, getting old... Just living a normal life. With love ones by his side, a violin in his hands and peace in his heart.

He was pulled back up onto his feet. He didn't know how he managed to not fall back to the floor again but he stood straight. He was handed his violin, which he placed on his left shoulder like so many times before and took his bow. For a moment he just stood there taking a few deep breaths and then started playing "Ave Verum" by Karl Jenkins, the 10th part of "Stabat Mater".

Maybe for the last time. Better make it count.

One year ago:

"If you were to meet the love of your life today, what piece of music would you play??" asked Eddy while grinning into the camera. "Ahhh..." hesitated Brett. "4" He closed his eyes, but this question had caught him completely off guard. "3" - "AHHHH..." Something meaningful? Happy? Beautiful? "2" He couldn't think of anything right now."Too much pressure!" he screamed. Nothing fitted really. "1" So he just played the first thing that came into his mind: Violin Partita No. 3 by Bach. Eddy couldn't hold himself and screamed by surprise. Brett grinned, focused not to drop his violin while shaking by laughter. What a bad response to such a lovely question.

When the camera was off and the friends put their staff together, Eddy said with a smile on his face: "You know, if you ever get married I am sure gonna play Bach at your wedding..." Brett rolled his eyes. "Please don't." Eddy laughed. "Dude, you asked me what musical piece I want played at my funeral." –"Yeah...That was a hard one."- "What would you have picked?" – "Oh, I don't know..." Brett paused a moment. It took him a while but then he said: "Stabat Mater by Karl Jenkins"

Eddy raised his eyebrows. "Wow. Yes, that is definitely a good answer." Brett nodded. "And I want all of the 12 parts! With a high-class chor! And an outstanding orchestra! Perfectly played with you as first violin! So better start practising it today!" – "Nah" Eddy responded. "I am a LingLing! I practice this piece the day before. Maybe even just sight-reading it." They both laughed.

Present-day:

Brett hadn't noticed but he had silently cried through the whole piece. His body felt empty. His eyes stared into the nothingness. As he had played the last note he justlowered both of his hands. That's it. He had said everything there was left tosay with his violin. Time to take his long life friend to rest.