Dark Paradise | ✔︎

Chpater 39

I WOKE UP to the sound of soft chirping birds, the pitter-patter of sensuous rain on the windowsill, the sound of A beautiful sweet mellow filled the whole house.

I got up and excited the bedroom and went downstairs as I entered the living room, my smile grew bigger.

Gabriella was sitting at the huge, shining white instrument , coaxing impossibly soothing melodies from it. She seemed lost as her fingers flew over the keys like a single cloud alone in the sky

She looked up and smiled at me, making my heart leap out of my chest.

"Why are you up so late?" I questioned.

Gabriella sighed, she turned to face the piano.

"I couldn't sleep." She whispered as her fingers moved with grace, not playing but caressing the piano keys.

I looked out the window. The sky was tar-black, A tinkling sound came to our ears as the first pearls of rain splashed onto the window.

"Sit with me." Gabriella uttered.

She scooted a bit to create space for me. I plop myself beside her and watched as she begins to play.

"When did you learn to play?"

"My mama taught me." She said,

The silence was ended by a sweet sound.

She looked so peaceful, she was feeling the music as her fingers moved like water, pressing each key.

Her eyes shut , the music was slow yet mesmerizing. Her midnight-black hair flowed over her shoulders.

"If you grew up in a normal family, what would you be?" Gabriella asked as she continued to play.

I looked at her and smiled.

As a kid I always wanted to help people but one thing led to another and here I am...killing them.

I wonder what would young me think if he saw me now. Probably terrified and disappointed.

"A doctor." I said. Gabriella paused and turned to me with wide eyes. "A doctor?" She snickered.

I nodded, I faced the piano and brushed my fingers over the instrument then randomly pushed a key.

Gabriella giggled. "There are a million things I could imagine you as but a doctor..."

My eyes narrowed. "So you are saying I'm not capable of being a doctor."

"I did not say that." She argued. "Then what were you referring to?"

She nibbled her bottom lip as she carefully thought what her next words were going to be. "You are ignorant and heartless."

"Ouch."

"But, there's something about you. I can't explain it but whatever it is it shows that you do have feelings and you do care about others. Sure sometimes you act like a child but I don't blame you, you grew up with Parents who are emotionally unavailable so instead of learning how to control your emotions you start to be indifferent towards everything because you have no experience, what's it's like being hurt, betrayed, scared or loved. I know you there was a woman before me and you might say it's love but-" She paused and gave me a sad smile. "That wasn't love. It was an unhealthy obsession."

"You are unlucky with love." She teased. I laughed. "Yeah." I breathed.

We soaked in silence, lost in our thoughts.

The rain was so heavy that the sound blurred into one long, whirring noise.

She was right.

When I'm hurt or feel anything I'm unfamiliar with I shut down and people might have thought I was okay but it was killing me inside.

Unlike others, Gabriella was the only one who saw through me.

My thoughts were interrupted by Gabriella's laugh. I turned to her, with my face pulled confused to why she was laughing.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"We were talking about our dream jobs, how did it lead to this?"

I smiled softly. "I don't know."

"Well, I wanted to be a pianist." She stated proudly.

"Pianist?"

"Yes." She asserted.

Gabriella looked out the window as her smile disappeared. "Guess it will remain a dream." she sighed.

She turned to me and smiled.

I smiled back.

Every time she looks at me with that smile and those eyes it just...

She gives me so many damn butterflies that it hurts.