Page 63 of Five Summers

“Yeah, it’s just something I’ve been working on.” I turn my attention back to the guitar and continue playing. “What took you so long?” I ask, casually.

“Mom and I got into it again.”

I pause playing the guitar and lift my head to look at her. “You guys fight a lot, huh?”

“Yeah. Hey, I thought you were leaving this at Ace’s,” she says, gesturing towards the guitar, attempting to change the subject.

“I usually do, but I needed it today. Plus I wanted to keep working on this melody that’s stuck in my head. Do you think you could look after the guitar for me until tomorrow, like maybe leave it in your car or something?”

She nods in agreement, but I can sense that something is bothering her. I refocus my attention on the guitar and begin strumming a few chords.

“What’s on your mind, Princess?”

“I don’t know just the usual stuff.” Sitting beside me, her legs dangle over the edge, swinging back and forth.

As I strum the guitar, the strings vibrate against my fingertips, filling the air with harmonious melodies. As I raise my head, my heart skips a beat, completely captivated by her beauty. Her eyes, like mirrors, reflect the sun’s golden rays as it sets below the horizon, casting a warm glow upon us. A gentle breeze carries the alluring scent of her perfume, intoxicating my senses. As I study her face, my fingers abruptly halt on the tautstrings. I lift my hand and trace my fingertips along the side of her face, feeling the smoothness beneath my touch while a heavy weight settles in my chest as regret floods over me, realizing my foolish blindness all these years. I never truly saw who she really is.

“That sounds really great, Xander,” she says, her voice pulling me back into the moment.

In that instant, I am reminded once again that I have returned to that forbidden place. I remove my hand from her face and gaze out over the landscape.

“Thanks. Ace thinks it’s the best thing I’ve written so far, and the lyrics are top-notch too.”

“Can I hear it?”

“We don’t play this sort of music usually, but we’re trying to mix things up a bit. We need to have a variety of songs for when we audition for agents.”

“Will you play it for me?”

“Yeah, if you spill the beans about what's bothering you.”

“My mom has been hassling me again about what I'm gonna do next year. That’s all. So can I hear it?”

“It’s not finished yet.”

“That doesn’t matter, I'm curious to hear what you've come up with.”

“Why?”

“I'm so glad I'm here to see your talent, Xander.”

I glance down at my guitar, uncertain of what to say in response to those rare words that I seldom hear. However, when it comes to her, she never fails to remind me of how talented and how unique I am.

“You can never take a compliment, can you?”

“No.” I lift my head and meet her gaze. “Not when you’ve been told most of your life that you’re worthless. You tend to believe it sometimes,” I confess.

“But don’t ever believe that shit, Xander. One day, you’ll see yourself the way I see you. How everyone sees you.”

Remaining silent, I watch her closely. “I truly hope that someday I can see myself through your eyes. But for now, it's easier to accept what people have been calling me all these years.”

“It saddens me that you can’t see your own worth.” Tears well up in her eyes.

“You know how I feel about pity, Princess. I fucking hate it.” I lean in closer, cupping the back of her neck, and resting my forehead against hers. A single tear trails down her cheek. I press my lips gently against hers, savoring the sweet taste. “Now, do you want to see what I have been working on?”

“Yes,” she nods.

Refocusing on the guitar, my fingers find the strings, and I strum the opening chords. The sound fills the space, resonating with a melodic rhythm.

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