A Wish for Us

by Tillie Cole

Bonnie lost her smile. “I believe that music should tell a story. I believe that in the notes and melodies there should be some kind of meaning. Music should take you on a journey, crafted by the creator’s heart.” She kissed my lips. “Your music that night…there was no story to me. No meaning.” My stomach fell, but it rose again when she said, “I don’t think that anymore. I’ve seen you play. Heard the music you can create. It’s all soul, Cromwell. The things I’ve heard you play on the piano, they were full of meaning. So much so that it made my heart cry.” Her eyes shimmered. “Never doubt your talent, Cromwell. I see it clearly now.” “It’s you,” I admitted. Bonnie stilled. “You were right. I’d lost my way. My music…it didn’t have purpose. There was no story. They were just the colors that made me feel the least.” I wanted to tell her why. But even now, I couldn’t bring myself to say it. I rubbed a strand of her hair between my fingers. “Since you…it’s felt different. Music. It’s you, Farraday. You’ve made it different.” I laughed to myself. What I was going to say was cheesy as hell. But it was true. “I’m inspired.” She sucked in a breath. “You inspire me.”