Our Song

by Anna Carey

‘Why amn’t I in a band like that?’

I was in fourth class and our teacher asked me, as politely as possible, to mime during the end of year concert

How will I keep myself occupied? There’s only so much yoga I can do.

I would rather die than admit it out loud, but that thought has crossed my mind.

when Sarah goes to the loo, I unfollow Dave on Instagram. I don’t want to see his happy new life anymore.

‘A haon, a dó, a haon, dó, trí!’

we run through all of the band’s old songs, replaying the particularly rusty ones until they shine again.

I’m aware that something’s missing,

It’s the hope that all this chemistry between us could mean something

When it comes to Tadhg Hennessy, I have no expectations or hopes at all.

But still … call me Ishmael, because I really do want to finish our song.

‘I’ve missed this, you know,’ says Tadhg after I’ve played back the second song

‘Us. Working together, I mean.’

‘Are you two still …?’ ‘Oh no,’ said Katie. ‘Katie fancies girls now,’ said Brian cheerfully. ‘Girls and boys,’ said Katie airily. ‘I’m not fussy.

chord sequence or a bassline from me, a melody or a riff from him

The illogical old hope that we could be more than friends keeps creeping in,

I wish, not for the first time, we had a word like sympa in English. It means nice, friendly, attractive, sympathetic, all of the above and more.

‘academia is right for me and Brian. But you two … you’re meant to be making music.

‘We’ll always have Paris’? I suppose Tadhg and I will always have the bus stop on Westmoreland Street.