The Song of Our Hearts { Completed }

二十三

Tàiyáng's POV

While I sat outside of Songbird's bedroom my head suddenly jerked up as I was about to doze off. I should go to bed... Suddenly a thought struck me that kept my eyes from closing completely.

Getting up off of the floor with renewed energy, I make my way to a secret room in the back of the house. I reach my hand towards the door knob, but I hesitate.

I'm going to be in big trouble when he finds out.

Throwing caution to the wind, I make the jump uncertain as to what was beneath me. She is worth his anger.

Turning the door, I'm dissapointed when I find out it's locked. Hanging my head, I tried to remember where Sēnlín would put the key.

Why in the world does my brother enjoy mind games so much?

I work through the possibilities in my head. Sēnlín's office is a place where he retreats when he has outbursts like today. Because it is special to him, he would lock it. If I was Sēnlín's, where would I put the key of somewhere special?

I would hide the key inside something that my brother wouldn't dare look at without my permission.

Epiphany.

A sudden realization.

Thankfully, I was given this rare gem at the right moment. Rushing upstairs to our bedroom, I reach underneath my brother's pillow and retrieve a small picture frame of Sēnlín's lost love.

I couldn't help but smile down at the laughing girl. Even though they never got married, she became my one and only sister.

"For my brother's sake.....please be alive and well." I whispered at the still picture as if she was still alive and breathing.

Before I got too nostalgic, I flipped the frame and undid the clasp. A small rusted key was laying in between the picture and the now removed backframe.

"Thanks Xīn'ài 心爱."

Clasping the back on, I tenderly place the picture underneath Sēnlín's pillow. Rushing downstairs, I secretly hoped no one heard me running around as I made my way back to the secret room.

Unlocking the door with the rusted key, the door cracks open. I place the key inside my pocket before I venture inside. What does this room contain if Sēnlín had to lock it.....I've never been allowed in here.

Well.....I'm not allowed inside now either.

Closing the door behind me, I wince when the door makes a loud clicking sound when it shuts. Surveying my surroundings, I'm surprised at how dark and messy it is. Walking over to the only window in the room, I untie the sash and pull the curtains aside. A shower of warmth spread slowly around the room.

How can it still be twilight? I fell asleep when the sun was falling beneath the horizon......
Oh, I didn't know I slept that long.

Turning my back towards the dying sun, my heart flutters when I see the state of the room. Books were strewn across the floor and scraps of paper were laying everywhere.The sun's precious light caught every particle of dust floating around the room making it look like stardust. Gently, the stardust fell like snow all around me as I walked around the room in awe.

Leatherbound books with worn and ragged pages rested on shelves that followed the perimeter of the room. I couldn't even see what color the walls were because they were covered with books. Looking up, I see the Song of Sēnlín's Heart reflect back down at me in the shape of stars.