New World | SOOKAI

Chapter 6

My fingers skipped over the keys with as much tenderness and levity as the edge of a feather would touch the surface of water in the breeze. Warmth, comfort, peace is what I wanted him to feel. I recalled the initial worried look he had given me when I first spoke with him and I wanted to banish it from all parts of his mind. Whatever discomfort he had felt, I compelled myself to ease it with every note resonating out from under my fingers. Was this making him happy? Was a smile sitting upon those cutely shaped lips of his out in the audience somewhere? I smiled to myself as I played. He deserved the feeling of solace. It was the very least I could give him for the indescribable amount of life he had put back into my soul. I closed the song just as delicately as I had opened it and I heard an applause from the audience in a volume I hadn't ever received before.

"Thank you" I said with delight, surprised at the praise that didn't just seem forced that evening.

I looked back down to the keys again, feeling myself become more comfortable upon the stage. I pressed my fingers down, opening up the song with the F and A major chords softly and began singing.. To him.

Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can't help
Falling in love with you

I didn't know him yet, but I did in the same instance. I already knew he was capable of saving my life. That was enough.. For me to start falling in love with the thought of him. I knew that much.

Take my hand
Take my whole life too

The image of him that I briefly had in front of me when I had come terrifying close to taking my own life appeared in my mind with those words. Like he had been holding my hand away from me, pulling me out of the tight grasp of my demise. Taking my life out of the terrible depths of my sorrow and back into the world. The.. new world his presence and words had created for me. Would he understand the hidden meaning in the song? Was he thinking about the words just as much as I was? Had he.. Fallen in love with..

I smiled as I continued through the song, trying to not let myself get swept up with my own thoughts. I knew what overthinking could do to people; what it had once almost done to me. My 2nd song came to a close, not having witnessed anyone walk out this time. I smiled as I was once again met with an abundant applause from the hidden hands in the darkness of the room beyond the bright lights of the stage.

"Thank you!" I said louder this time, feeling somewhat proud of the recognition. Was this what it felt like to be an accomplished musician?

I stood up from my seat and pulled it forward to the front of the stage, feeling a bit nervous as I reached for the guitar which had sat quietly in waiting for me. Playing an instrument facing towards the audience was more confronting than sitting to the side like I did with the piano. You only had the keys to look at. It was somewhat exposing to be behind the smaller, stringed instrument; being able to feel the audience's eyes in a more pressing manner.

One of the staff members came out with a microphone stand for me with 2 of them attached. One for me, one for my wooden accomplice. I gave a soft strum to the steel strings and heard all 6 of them be in the exact key they needed to be. I softly tapped the side of the guitar and counted myself into the song inside my head.

3, 4..