12 years earlier. . .
I waited patiently for Brian to show up at the school. We’re hanging out together today which is nice. Since it’s the summertime. He usually rides his bike with the other guys but today he’s running late. I waited quietly in the back of the school where we usually meet up. I could feel my tee shirt, loosely fitting around me, by the way I felt the heat falling from the sun to me I knew my shirt was black, probably my slayer tee shirt I got for my birthday. My mom put me in my favourite red skin tight jeans, the ones with rips up and down the legs. I wore my old high tops as well. My hair was up in a pony tail.
I heard a group of people walking up to me, their footsteps quick and heavy. It was a group of boys. I heard their voices, deepened and fermilure. It was the group of boys who make fun of me all the time. My stomach knotted violently. They began to bully me and tease me, calling me names and shit. I couldn’t do anything but pretend I didn’t hear them. I knew where they were but they could move if I swung at them. Plus it was six against one.
My heart thumped loudly when I heard Brian’s voice bellowing out at them.
“Hey fuck off!” He yelled loudly. I could hear footsteps running away while bike tires screeched to a halt. I felt safe by smelling Brian’s body spray, he wore a little too much of it and that’s how I could Identify him positively. I remained leaning against the school blankly.
I felt his hand press my shoulder lightly. It made my heart flutter and a smile cross my face.
“Sorry, I didn’t get here sooner. Matt had to take a piss.” He apologized. I laughed and nodded.
“Its okay, when you gotta go, you gotta go.” I replied softly. I knew one of the other guys helped me onto the trick pegs on Brian’s bike. It was Zack by the way he was so nervous around me. Zack was always nervous around me but that’s because of my situation. I hung onto Brian’s broad shoulders and smiled as we began to peddle away. I loved the thrill of riding blind. I kept smiling and laughing quietly. We rode to the park benches and sat there listening to music. I heard them carving something into the table. I sat in silence with a shy smile.
“What are you guys doing?” I asked sullenly. The sound stopped and I felt the bench move as someone shifted their weight.
“We’re carving our names into this table.” Jimmy said with a loud tone. I nodded and grinned brightly.
“I’ll crave yours if you want.” Matt questioned sweetly. I blushed brightly at his question.
“Okay, that sounds nice.” I replied.
“I got Iron Maiden tickets for Friday night. You want to come?” Brian’s voice announced a sweet questioned. I heard the guys chant a hell yes. I remained quiet thinking I wasn’t invited.
“How ‘bout you Heather, you want to come? I could come and pick you up.” Brian’s question made my smile widen dramatically. I nodded happily.
“Sure I’ll come.” I replied with a small voice. It was amazing to feel normal, sure I might be hanging out with a bunch of guys but they treat me equally. That’s all I want in life.
It’s been ten weeks since Brian and I became a couple. It’s been eight weeks since he moved into my house with me. And it’s been five weeks since they left for a trip, they’re needed in Quebec. He’ll be home for this weekend which is amazing, I miss him so much. I’ve got a surprise for him when he comes back. I talked to him this morning he sounded so tired and slightly hung over. I didn’t tell him the surprise. I’m waiting for him to come home. I hope he likes it.
I’ve been back at work for four weeks which is nice. I needed to learn to re-read music which sucks. I can’t play the piano when I can see, I can’t. So I close my eyes and use my ears and knowledge.
I sat at the piano that sat in my basement playing and writing music. My hair pulled back into a braid as I wore a grey tank top with a red, white and blue checkered light jacket over top and a pair of light jeans. I felt lonely and consumed in my work. My head ached as I wrote down the notes on the paper as I played them on the piano. I have to have six pieces ready for a huge performance by the end of next month. I’m playing for these people who think they can make me a known name. I already have four pieces done but that took me ten weeks to write and perfect. The next two won’t be hard. I finished writing out the notes down on the paper and took a sip of the coffee I had sitting on the table.
This was alot more work than I imagined. I should’ve really been doing this before I had the operation but no, I wanted to be able to write and orchestrate an entire set with my sight so instead of having fifteen weeks to write these songs and perfect them on the piano and with the other instruments I have thirteen weeks. Ten of which I’ve spent writing and perfecting them on the piano. I have complete faith in the musicians; they’ll be able to perfect this within days.
I set the papers down on top of the piano and sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of my nose as my head ached slightly. My head hung down between my shoulders. My head propped up when I heard the front door open and slam shut. My heart was racing inside my chest. Who could that be? My nerves were electric and on fire as I calmly and quietly walked up the stairs, each step creaking under my weight. I saw a duffle bag sitting on the couch; the bag was old and rugged.
My heart sped in my rib cage as I heard heavy foot steps coming from down the hall. I smiled brightly when Brian came around the corner with a surprised expression on his face.

Notes