Serenity (Sequel to Only Your Arms)

Chapter 3

I woke up the next morning and decided that, for the first time in almost a month, I would head to the studio. My head was all over the place and I continuously played the conversation with Harry last night in my head over and over. Throughout the entire walk to the studio, my mind wandered back to him and the words we shared the night before. We both agreed we loved and cared for one another deeply and that losing the other seemed like an impossibility. We also agreed that getting back together would be extremely chaotic and somewhat toxic for both of us due to the publicity of the relationship. Despite knowing how chaotic it would be, I felt pain within me at the thought of never being with Harry again. The thought of never being able to touch him or kiss him again felt like a dagger to the heart and I know that I wouldn't survive long without his intimacy and care. As much as I tried to convince myself that I had moved on, my heart spoke a different language and my feelings for him had only grown stronger throughout our separation. It was really true that distance and separation only made those who truly loved each other realize just how much they needed each other. I found myself snapping out of a daze as I arrived at the studio, photographers already gathering outside. Ignoring the chatter of the cameramen, I kept my headphones in and I buzzed myself into the studio. I walked up the stairs and found my producer and a few other members of my band sitting there, chatting away about the exciting Friday night they had last night. 

"Hey sunshine." It was one of my vocalists and close friends, Vanessa, greeting me this way and I gave her a hug before plopping down on the studio chair right beside her.

"Hey babe, how are you?" I asked before giving my producer a high five and grabbing a pair of headphones. I set them down in front of me before looking around at everyone gathered, their eyes staring right back at me.

"You look out of it," my guitarist, Dan, said and I smiled at him before shaking my head.

"Let's get to work guys," I remarked before standing up and walking over to the keyboard that sat nearby. "So, last night I couldn't really sleep and I sort of wrote something on my piano. I was up till like... I don't know, 2 in the morning writing?" I ran my fingers through my hair before sighing out loud and sitting on the stool by the keyboard. "I feel like it could turn into something good if we focus on it. Can I play it?"

"Please do," my producer, Mark, said before sitting down on a chair next to me, a cup of coffee in his hands. "Before she plays, Jen can you grab Mich a cup of tea and some water to warm her vocals up," Mark added and his assistant, who stood nearby, acted quickly.

"Thank you," I said to him before taking a deep breath and playing. I closed my eyes and remembered the emotions I felt last night when I began writing the song. It was about Harry, of course, and my mixed emotions about the whole situation were reflected in the song. The thoughts that made the least sense to me suddenly made sense when I translated them into a song. Somehow, music can make sense of everything. I didn't understand why I felt so drawn to him- why I couldn't get myself to be with anyone else, no matter how hard I tried. There was something about him and his charm that left me coming back for more, no matter how exhausted I was of it all. My fingers skillfully glided over the keys on the piano and I found myself in some sort of daydream, unaware of my surroundings and the people listening along in the studio. The piano was the only other thing that mattered in that moment and I was playing as if I was revisiting some sort of past life where I lived as a professional pianist. I finished playing the song and opened my eyes to find those who were listening in staring at me, complete silence filling the room. 

"Who got you in your feelings?" Vanessa asked and the room bursted into laugher at this break of silence. I sighed out loud before laughing myself.

"You don't even want to know," I breathed out before smiling. "Thoughts?"

"I love it," Mark remarked before standing up and scooting me over. "I want to try and play that again, except this time I want to try out some harmony and alternate patterns on the keyboard. I want to sort of see how we could layer this and make it a song if that's cool." With that, he grabbed another stool and began playing with me. We played the song over and over again and it felt nice being able to not do anything but relish in the sound of the music playing. It was truly beautiful what music could do- it could tell a million different stories and convey a hundred different emotions all in the span of one beautifully written song. It was art and I woke up each day feeling blessed that I was given such a breathtaking talent to share with the world.