teardrops on the piano

7/28/2019 Teardrops on the Piano

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TEARDROPS

ON THE

PIANO

SYNOPSIS:

A man is in the second story of a theater, playing the piano.

The musical instrument is owned before by a woman he metfive years ago. Every single note he is playing on the piano is

music of longing he is longing for someone. He starts

recalling everything that happened in the past five years

between him and the woman who changed his life forever.

Who is this woman?

Find out in this story about finding real happiness a story

that will tell you that love is endless.

Lloyd P.

Flores


3/20

2

The gray sky is giving a warning. Anytime from now, the heaven will

pour its impending heavy blessing of rain. Perhaps, the first rain in the

month of April.

Ive been in the second story of the theater for more than an hour,

playing the piano. Playing her piano. Playing the music written in the sheet

music. Her sheet music.

The facade is glass-covered. The piano stood on the right portion of

the room. Not only the piano is here, but other instruments are being

displayed like violin, guitars, and harp. When someone plays an instrument

here, the music is also being heard outside. Its like performing for the

people outside for free. This is the strategy of the theater to convince more

theatergoers.

Many people are passing by. Some are so busy that they wont even

bother to give a few seconds to catch a glimpse of me. But many stop to

appreciate more the show. I wonder if they dont just hear but listen to

every single note emanating from the piano. If they do, then they must

realize that the music is longing for someone. Im longing for someone.

The view makes me reminisce the past five years.


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Five years ago...

I was crossing an intersection, when suddenly I got distracted by ahorn of a car on my right. Its bumper was just few inches away from my hip.

I cant remember how it got there quickly, because my mind was totally

preoccupied by what had just happened that morning of how I stuttered in

front of my employer. Id gone through six job interviews and all of them

were failures. Whats wrong with me, I frequently asked myself.

I didnt apologize, instead I continued walking. But as I reached theother side of the road, the sky poured a heavy rain. I hurriedly went to a

porch of the nearest building which was a theater. The rain was so hard

that the raindrops would still splatter on my feet. My newly-shined leather

shoes couldnt help but to get wet. After my failed job interview, that was

what my life could offer me another bad luck!

From where I stood, I could see other people hastily looking for aplace to wait for the rain to stop, but no one dared to accompany me. But

another event added to my grievances. A fleeting car ran by, wheels

splashing muddy water all over me and leaving dark stains on my white

polo. Oh! That was a free cool shower.

I fumbled for my handkerchief in my pocket, but I didnt find it there. It

looked like I had left it on the chair during my interview when I had used it

to wipe the beads of sweat racing on my forehead. I couldnt help but to

use the sleeves of my polo to dry my face.


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Another vehicle was rushing closer, but this time it was a truck. I

couldnt afford to catch muddy water again, so I was left with no choice but

to sneak inside the theater.

Once in the lobby, I saw a posted advertisement of the show that

night. The poster was suggesting a musical play about a daughter and a

mother. Suddenly, I heard a mellow music of a piano. I assumed there was

a practice session for the performance. The sounds were so lonely and

could overwhelm anyones heart. It seemed mourning for something for

someone.

I couldnt resist my feet to enter the stadium. But as I came inside, the

music stopped. It was a typical theater. Every row of seats was raising one

behind another. The interior was dim, and the only lights I could see were

the faint sunrays passing through the curtainless windows and the spotlight

that lit the piano on the stage. The piano was like me. Were alone.

The piano seemed to urge me to come forward. I walked through the

center aisle until I reached the stage. The piano seemed persuading me to

sit and play him. I let myself to be bound under its spell. The keys were

waiting to be touched. As I pressed down the keys, the piano produced an

echoing cacophony sound breaking the silence in the stadium. I

remembered that I hadnt been playing piano for many years.

I tried again and played a rhapsody music. My fingers danced over

the keys. I couldnt believe I could still remember those notes after years of

not playing piano after my parents had told me that being a pianist must

just be a hobby and not a profession after one day when I had woken up

looking for my piano in the house and Id realized that my parents had


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thrown it somewhere. Certainly, pianists need not to memorize the musical

notes, but learn and hear the music from their heart.

When I ended my momentary concert, I heard clapping of hands from

my back. That had never happened before. Even my parents had never

done that before. I turned around but I didnt see anyone. Suddenly, a lady

emerged from the darkness and said, Youre great! The woman had a

gorgeous face, long shiny jet black hair, and captivating brown eyes. I

couldnt take off my eyes staring straight at her. A few seconds passed, but

I thought that time stopped between us.

Im sorry. I didnt mean to intrude, I stuttered. My face started to

blush because of shame.

No. Its alright, softly said the cherry lips of the lady.

Have you been there for so long?

Yes. In fact, I saw you entering here.

Really? I asked and she nodded. I didnt notice you. The theater

must have been so dark or maybe I was hypnotized by the piano.

I believe its the latter.

Youre a stage player, I suppose.

No, Im not. She walked towards the piano toward me. My familyowns this theater. She petted the soundboard of the piano as if it was alive

and smiled at me making me breathless. This piano is mine. Suddenly,

her smile turned into a frown when she observed something on me. What

happened to you? What are those stains on your cloth?


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Ahmm, a car splashed these filths on me, I chuckled.

From where she stood, I glanced over the windows. That was when I

realized that the rain had stopped already.

Ow! I have to go now. I dashed down the stairs. I was already in the

center aisle, when I realized that there was something necessary to tell her.

Thank you.

Thank you for what? she asked.

For lettingme play your piano.

Youre welcome. Come back if you want to, she said and waved her

hands at me.

When I reached the porch, I turned around and grinned by myself. Id

never been so happy before. But there was something more important that

I forgot to tell her.

Whats her name?I asked myself.

Suddenly, I felt wetnessand coldness in my back. Oh! Not again, I

groaned. I didnt notice that a fleeting car had run by again. Its wheels had

sprinted on the stagnant water on the ground, splashing it all over my back.


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Four years ago...

I was on my way to the theater. I wasnt a theatergoer, though.Actually, I was working there as a pianist. Despite my parents disapproval,

I still followed my passion for it was my dream job. Also, I was going there

because there was something to celebrate that day.

I went to a flower shop first to buy a bouquet of white roses. However,

the moment I set my foot out of the store, raindrops started to fall as if the

heaven was crying for something. Fortunately, I brought an umbrella.Unfortunately, I couldnt spread it out because of its faulty lock so I decided

to stick around first.

I looked up to know if there was a chance that the rain would stop,

but the huge dark expanse of the sky was telling me that it wouldnt cease

giving forth water. I was left with no option but to run, knowing the shop

was just two blocks away.

From a far distance, while running toward the theater, I could see her

playing piano in the second story. I had a second thought if I should give

her the flowers totally soaked in water.

The music couldnt be heard outside, for it was totally succumbed by

the heavy fall of rain. As soon as I reached the stadium, I heard the music

she was playing an adagio melody. Slow and very sad.

I hurriedly run up the staircase. There she was, staring outside while

playing piano. While the sky was pouring raindrops to the ground, she was

pouring teardrops to her piano. I hadnt noticed it while Id been outside.


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The raindrops falling on the glass hide the teardrops she was shedding on

the piano. I began to step towards her when she talked.

I always play piano every time there is a rain. Rain is the only one

who can understand my predicaments and willing to sympathize, she

uttered struggling between deep breaths.

Is there something you want to tell me? I asked, still glued to my

position. It took a few seconds before she could answer.

My mother is the only one who raised me after my dad had chosen

to live with a bitch. The sad melody she played on the piano was abackground of her lamentation. I was just three years old then. She loved

my father all her life, but the only thing she received from her was a lifetime

struggle she had to endure forever.

She told me I was totally like my father. My father is a pianist, the

thing she admired most about him. But the music they played together for

more than five years didnt last forever. She didnt want this to happen to

me to be alone. But then she had to leave me also.

She never told me that she had an eye cancer. She secretly passed

through some treatments, until the day that I noticed something was wrong

with her. I asked her but she just told me shes okay. How could she be

when its obvious? So I begged her to tell me the truth and she did. I

wished I didntask her but I couldnt afford to lose her too. Until one day,

the day Id been afraid of came she left me. Im alone now.


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She laid her arms and head over the piano keys, creating a shrieking

harsh sound. She was frantically sobbing. I dropped the flowers then

rushed to her to console her.

Youre not alone Im here, I said as I gripped her hand. She

moved her head up and her glimmering eyes stared straight at me. I put my

left hand on his neck, thumbing away the tears flowing down her delicate

cheeks. Ill never leave you.

That day was the second death anniversary of her mother, and our

fifth monthsary.


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Three years ago...

I hadnt seen her for several months. I hadnt heard her music again. Iwas standing on the other side of the road in front of the theater. I had an

umbrella but it wasnt raining, as if the heaven was joyful not to cry that

day.

The street wasnt busy. No people walking. No rushing cars. No

music. No woman playing piano in the second story of the theater. Silence

blanketed the whole space. I wanted to come into the theater, but I had nocourage to do so after... after what had happened to us. I stood for a few

minutes hoping that she would come out.

All of a sudden, a familiar female voice called my name. As I turned

around, I found the girl Id been looking for. She was embracing a sheet

music. Like our first meeting, I thought that time stopped between us

though I knew that the wind was whispering on her long shiny jet black hair.She hadnt changed except that she was wearing eye-glasses which hid

her brown eyes.

She smiled. How I long to see that sweet smile again, I told myself. I

responded with the sweetest smile I could muster.

Youre awkward, she chuckled and then walked past me towards

the theater. That was when I realized I was grinning with my whole front

teeth shown up. I was fatally overwhelmed with distress, knowing that this

what would happen when we met after a month I hadnt seen her.


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I got on my feet and started to walk away from her away from the

place we had first metwhen suddenly she shouted Hey! Did I tell you to

leave? I swung around and scowled at her. I really couldnt understand her

actions that day. Nevertheless, she invited me to come with her, and

without a second thought I agreed.

As we moved into the stadium, she switched on the lights on the

stage and the piano emerged amidst the darkness. She walked through the

center aisle, while I followed her behind. As we reached the foot of the

stage, she pointed at the first row of chairs and directed me to sit. I sit down

in one of the cozy upholstered seats, my eyes following her movements.

She went up the stage, walked straight to the piano and immediately

seated in front of it. She placed the sheet music on the music desk. I

realized that she would be performing for me only for me.

She started to strike the keys and every motion of her fingers

produced lovely chords. This was the first time I heard it. Did she compose

it, I asked myself.

I came up the stage then sit beside her. I looked at her astride,

unable to disturb her at all. I pressed down the sharp-note keys to

compliment her keystrokes. Both of us created a magnificent sonata. A

music that bound us together and I really hoped that this would last forever.

In the interim of the music, our gazes met which held for several

minutes but the music remained to be pleasing. Despite her eyeglasses, I

could see the tears crystallizing at the edges of her brown eyes.

Im sorry, she wept.


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Dont worry. Im always here for you. I promised you that I will

never leave you, I said.

That day was the eighth month after she had told me that she didnt

love me anymore and then broken up with me.


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Two years ago...

The glass wall in the second story of the theater had misted overbecause of the unstoppable downpour. I wipe a portion of the wall to look

outside, but I could barely see anything even the road outside. Somehow, I

could perceive the headlights of surging vehicles. I was afraid for the

heaven was crying for something again.

It was so cold, but I wanted to give my jacket to her. I shrugged it off

and wrapped it over her shoulders. She didnt move even a bit. I sit next toher in front of the piano.

She requested me to play her compositions in her sheet music. That

was the first time I played them. I only heard them before and she was the

one playing.

She searched for my shoulders and lean her head.

Do you want to sleep? I asked.

No, I dont want to sleep. I want to cherish this moment with you,

watching the rain, she muttered. But the truth is I was the only who could

watch the rain. Besides we will never have this time like this again after

after I will sleep forever.

What are you talking about? I asked, confused by what she said.

But she didnt answer. Instead, she steered the talk to other matter.

Do you know Ludwig Van Beethoven? she asked.


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Yeah. The famous composer and pianist, I answered.

Do you know that he lost his hearing at the age of 26? Despite of his

disability, he continued composing and playing piano. Unfortunately, he

would never hear the music he created. I must say that Im luckier than

him. Im just blindbut I still can hearthe music you and I are playing.

But you dont have to hear them. You only have to feel them. Love

Love is the music you and I are playing. The moment I said it, her grip on

my arms tightened. I heard her weeping.

I suddenly stopped playing the piano, because as I turned the lastpage of the sheet music, I found no composition anymore. Instead, there

was a letter. As I read the first line, I concluded that the letter was written

for me. I had no idea if she penned this, knowing that she could not write

anymore for she was blind. But then, the handwriting was so familiar that

the writer could not be anyone but her. She might have written this before

she got blind.

Without getting permission from her, I continued reading the letter

the words I never heard from her but she wanted to tell me.

I felt my strength whisk away from me as I finished the letter. That

was the only time that I noticed that her grip on my arms had loosened.

Her hands suddenly fell over my lap. My tears started to flow like the rain

outside, and I wrapped her around my arms cradling her.

You have endured so many pains. Dont worry about me You may

sleep now, I whispered near her ear.

That day was the 2nd month of our marriage.


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A year ago...

As I emerged from the curtains on the stage, the spotlight turned tome. That was the time I realized that despite the heavy rain outside, many

people still went to the theater and didnt want to miss the musical play.

Ladies and gentlemen, I called out. We are all gathered here to

witness a story about how the music bound the two lovers, a story about

finding a real love, a story about how the two played the music of their

love... Its a story about me and the woman who is my favorite music ofall. A person among you is my wife and I dedicate this to you.

Im the one who composed all the music throughout the play

dedicated to my wife.

Present...

Im about to reach the last page of the sheet music, and I rememberwhat happened a year ago I lied to everyone when I told them that a

person among them was my wife. But one thing is certain to me the truth

I hope was just a terrifying nightmare that day was her first death

anniversary and today is the second.

I suddenly stop playing the piano. As I turn the last page of the sheet

music, I see the letter she wrote on the last page two years ago the letterwhich I have read for many times.


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I wrote all the compositions here and they are all

dedicated to you. The time has come and now I have the

courage to tell you all of my secrets.

After our 9th monthsary with you as my boyfriend, I

decided to walk my life away from you. I told you that I

didnt love you anymore. But I want you know that that

was contrary to my heart. That was the day I found out

that I had eye cancer which I had inherited from my

mother. Thats the reason why I broke up with you. For you

not to know my situation.

I know I just gave you agony and I know that I

should have told you, but that is far better than if you

learned about my sickness. I know how it feels since Iexperienced it when I found out about my mothers

sickness. It is very tormenting when you know that your

love one is on the verge of death. I didnt want you to

experience what I had experienced.

I went under chemotherapy for several months, and Ithought I survived it. I waited for several months to get my

hair back to its length. Im not used to wearing eyeglass

but my sight was still blurred.


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I went to your home to give you this sheet music as a

gift to reconcile with you, but I found out that youre not

living there anymore. I didnt know where to find you.

However, when I went back to the theater, I saw you

standing there in front of the theater. Were you looking

for me that day? I called your name and as you turned

around, the days we had shared together recollected in

my mind and my heart. I decided that instead of giving

you this sheet music, I would play the music for you... the

music of my love for you. The love reechoed between us

after that very day.

Two months ago, the day of our wedding, I promised

to God that I would be your woman for a lifetime... but thelifetime seems a short time for us. Any moment from now, I

will leave you... forever.

Just one month ago, I learned that cancer cells are

still living in my body. I have consulted many doctors but

all of them told me that I only had a few days left to live...few days to be with you.

I already anticipated that I would get blind thats

why I had written this letter before it would happen.


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Im sorry because Ive been selfish. I take all the

sufferings and I never want to see you suffering.

Do you still remember the day we met? That day wasthe day when I conducted a musical play dedicated to my

mother on her first death anniversary. Please do me a

favor. Please do the same thing on my first death

anniversary.

If my mother is just alive, Ill tell her that her wish for

me that I would find my real love came true. Youre the

one who has fulfilled my mothers dream.

The only thing I wish for is your happiness. You have

to be happy after I pass away. Find another woman who

will make you happy.

My piano is now yours. Please take care of it because

Ill be the piano.

If only I get a chance, Im going to tell her I dont need anotherwoman for she was my happiness... she is my happiness... and she will be

my happiness forever. She who is the first person in the entire world who

appreciated my talent. She who helped me reach my dream. She who


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showed me the meaning of love. Shes the reason why Im still living. She

is the music of my life... the piano of my life.

The gray clouds started to burst. Perhaps, it is the first rain in the

month of April.

People outside are hastily looking for a place to wait for the rain to

stop, but I dont think that heaven will stop on crying. Heaven has been so

sympathetic for the past five years. Heaven, are you crying with me?

Youre crying more than I cry.

I always play piano every time there is a rain. Rain is the only onewho can understand my predicaments and willing to sympathize. People

outside will never know that Im crying, because the raindrops falling on the

glass hide the teardrops Im shedding on the piano.

But should I cry? I have to prove her that she will be my happiness

forever. I wipe away the tears off my cheeks and the piano keys. I start to

reminisce only the happy moments we are together.

Love is not counting the years you have shared good moments but

counting the good moments you have shared even in just a few years.

The End

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teardrops on the piano

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