A Loss For Words

Movie

Most days are good days. Like today.

He'd made enough money that they'd be set for years but they were both working because neither of them, really, would be content sitting at home all day doing nothing. So he had moved to the production side part-time, joining a small record label for up-and-coming artists. And she's still a songwriter, although it's getting more and more difficult for her lately. A song that probably would have taken her two days to write a few years ago now takes at least eight, but they still sell for exorbitant amounts of money and writing still makes her happy and that's all that really matters.

When he gets home he finds her outside in the backyard, sitting cross-legged on a blanket in the grass, her songbook beside her. He walks quietly over to her and sits down next to her and she immediately leans into him.

"Hey Mia," he says. "What are you doing?"

"Thinking," she says, then frowns. "Or...trying to think, I guess."

It doesn't faze him anymore, so he just nods and pulls her closer. "We signed a duo today, a guy and a girl just a little younger than us."

"Were they good?"

"They were great. They...they reminded me of you and me," he says hesitantly.

"Or what we could've been?" she asks, not bitterly, and there's a wistful smile on her face.

He smiles back and presses his lips to the side of her head. "Yeah."

They fall into a comfortable silence as he lightly strokes her shoulder with his palm and he closes his eyes for a minute, letting her warmth seep into him. She's humming something unfamiliar to him so he figures it's one of her new songs and he lets the quiet melody wash over him.

She clears her throat after a few minutes.

"I couldn't figure out how to set the DVR today. Can you help me?" she asks.

Again, he's used to it.

"Of course. What were you trying to record?"

"It's a—" she stops, frowns. "A—"

"Show?" he offers quietly, and she shakes her head. He's usually pretty good at this, so he tries again. "Movie?"

She nods. "Right, a movie. It's a movie about—" she stops talking. "It's a movie about—about—about—about—"

"A movie about what?" he prompts. She grins. "A movie about a singer who falls in love with his songwriter."

"Sounds familiar," he says dryly, and she laughs. "Isn't it a little early for a movie inspired by my life?"

"You think quite highly of yourself, don't you?" she asks teasingly, raising an eyebrow. "What makes you think James Kim's life story is worth telling?"

"Please, Mia," he scoffs. "It started with me singing at the school talent show and you giving me feedback on my original song" He nods. "Pure entertainment right there."

She hesitates. "So your life story starts with the day you met me?"

He shrugs. "Of course it does."