The lights at the Unicorn flickered out for the last time and the door creaked shut with a thud that echoed throughout the empty hall. Darkness rolled over the empty, red velvet embroidered seats. The dust already settling on the pinewood stage. The blue curtain was open revealing the lonely piano. The keys sat untouched and were still, silent, obsolete. The paint on the keys was peeling away, showing the wood underneath. The ornate roof-panels had already started to fall onto the rugged brown carpet, littering the first rows with debris. Slithers of light silently smothered the exit signs.
An eviction notice hung on the door thinned and discoloured by the weather. Taped to the bottom of the paper was a contract for demolition. Date 3 weeks from now. Eminent doom waits.
A week passed and the Unicorn had seen no activity. It was as if it didn't exist. A door made a gentle groan and a shallow band of light crept gingerly through the foyer. The light made it all the way to the piano, highlighting it beautifully and impossible to resist. The girl slowly and lightly, drifted over to the piano.
She studied it carefully, running her hands over the keys and tested the middle C. The seat strained and gave a faint whisper of discomfort, but held firm. Her soft fingers sat on the keys as she wondered what to play. Fur Elise composed by Beethoven filled the silence. Beautiful harmonies and canons filled the air. Harsh tones of the interlude faded into the gliding melody. A magnificent sforzando and ritardando to round out and a dramatic dimuendo to finish.
The girl lifted herself from the chair and ran out of the theatre.
The next day she returned but today strode in purposefully. She laid her hands on the piano and again pondered what to play. Pachelbel's canon in D roamed into the empty crevices and the theatre became alive with music once again. Rich moving melodies swooned with the higher octaves. Intricate sustaining and impossible triads, mixed with the piano's unique inner workings making for an excellent tune.
Every day the girl appeared and every day the deadline for the building grew nearer. One particular day she walked out the front door her outstretched hand turned the curved brass knob, when she noticed the demolition warning.
"Due Tomorrow"
When the girl returned she found the Unicorn reduced to rubble. Wooden planks were stacked in a pile. She manoeuvred carefully around the fallen chandelier and over row F of broken suede seats. She let her hand feel the soft, velvet embroidery.
Out of the corner of her eye she glimpsed an object standing above the rubble ruins. She revolved to face it. There in the middle of her gaze, tall as ever, proud and strong. Irresistible.
She sat down and delicately placed her hands on the keys and started to play.
