Melody (Frerard)

It was the first night in the beginning of fall, the wind in the city is getting vicious and I suddenly wonder if I should go on another one of my nightly walks. As I've done so in the past few months.
Though I must admit, on a few of those walks, I was searching for the mysterious guitar player from all those months ago. Since I was never able to find it again.
Every once in a while, id get that melody stuck in my head. Sometimes for the whole day. On rare nights, id dream about it. Though I never seem to know why.
What is it about this melody that is so important? Or is it about who's playing it? I'm not exactly sure.
There was a soft knock at my bedroom door when I find myself mindlessly sketching that street again.
"I swear, Gerard, you're going to drive yourself insane if you don't get any sleep soon." he laughs as he places the tray of espressos down on my sketching desk.
"Madam Lindsey is requesting that you do another portrait for her tomorrow afternoon."
"That’s the 3rd one this year." I laugh.
"Didn’t I tell you that she has had a liking towards you?" a soft smirk grows at the corners of his mouth. "Gerard, you must invite her to my birthday ball next month. It’ll be fantastic!"
I shrug."I don't know."
"I wasn't asking." he laughs then takes a drink from his espresso.
I just roll my eyes and continue with my drawing.
"What is it with you and that street? Every time I come in here, you're always sketching it."
"I don't know... really I don't. I'm just... enticed by it I guess." I half smile.
Oh, he wouldn't know the half of it...
"Well, if you're so enticed by it, then why don't you go there?"
I let out a large sigh before grabbing the extra cup near his and taking a drink from the espresso. "I can’t."
"And why not?"
I ignore him and continue with the drawing, once again. Adding more detail to the water and the buildings that surrounded it. Recapturing the memory of its fragmented beauty.
"Gerard, why not?" he asked, more persistent this time.
"Because... I can’t find it." I sigh in defeat. "Trust me, I've tried. Don’t pest me about it Mikey." my words come out more repulsive than I intended it to be.
"Why didn't you tell me? I could’ve helped you."
"My good man ray gets all of his servants from there." he smiles and places his cup back on the tray. "And he takes me with him all the time." he adds.
"Will you take me there?"
"Of course!"
I stop my drawing and get up from my seat then grab my coat.
"What are you doing?" Mikey asks.
"What do you think? I'm getting ready so you can take me to that street."
"Right now? It’s quite late. Don’t you think?"
"Mikey, my naive little brother. It’s never too late for a walk." I laugh as I grab my sketch book and pencil. "Now let’s go."
We leave my estate and head out through the night to find this street that I've been yearning to come back to for so long.
It doesn't take long to find it, more because I'm faintly greeted by the beautiful melody the closer and closer we got to the street. It was exactly as id heard it last. Though, now it meant more to me than just an enchanting melody. It became so much more than what id expected. Though I can’t seem to put my finger on what it exactly was to me.
"What is that sound?" Mikey asks.
"It’s not a sound... It’s the love song of a guitar." I smile wide.
"Wait...” he raises an eyebrow.
I stare at him, confused as he just listened to the melody in the air.
"I know that song. I've heard it before." Mikey smirks as if to recall an obscene memory but then shakes it away. "Not too long ago too."
"Do you know who plays it?" I ask.
He shakes his head. "I know that there was once a family who lived around this area...” He began.”Very talented in the musical arts... ray has told me of the many musicians his parents have hired in that family for all of their festivities. But..." he frowns.
"But what?"
He took a long sigh before looking at me. "After awhile, they all started getting ill. And they weren't able to play, therefore, they weren't able to get money for food, wood to keep them warm or even medicines for their illnesses. So, they eventually..." he clears his throat. "Began dying of either illness or starvation."
"Little known rumor is, that the last one left was a woman who died of starvation to give her son the last of everything she had. Since he was just a child. Not even 10 years old yet if I remember correctly. He couldn’t work to earn money yet."
"And what happened to him?" I ask.
He shrugged. "No one knows. No one has ever seen him out on the streets or come out of the building they lived in, so he’s probably dead too. I assume."
I nod, not saying a word.
The story replayed in my mind, guilting me. Though I know I have no reason to feel guilty. Maybe it wasn't guilt that I was feeling... Maybe... pity? No... I don't know.
"I'm going to head back to the estate now. Do you think you-"
"I’ll be fine Mikey, go home. Get some rest." I smile.
He gives me a curt nod then disappears into the darkness of the night.
I began to follow the sound of the melody so that I was back at the door of the magnificent ghost musician.
"And we meet again." I whisper with a slight smile.

Notes