(Lisa pov)
Lisa entered the gym with her mother at her side and Marco behind them. Her eyes widening at the large banners and decorations strung about the building.
Bright red curtains ahead of them, transforming the what was a rather plain looking school gym, into a dully lit and relaxing auditorium.
They had arrived a little early to be able to get good seats, so once receiving their copies of the music score and the students preforming on what instruments, they made their way to the center of the stands.
Sitting high enough to see over other people's heads, but close enough to still see the stage where they'd be preforming clearly.
Not long later, people began filling the gymnasium. More people than Lisa had originally anticipated, but there was nothing wrong with that.
She just hoped the large number of people wouldn't frighten Rosie more than she's sure her girlfriend already was.
Lisa looked down to her pamphlet and flipped through to the page that showed all the performers. Smiling at the very first name on the list.
Lead Performer / Park Chaeyoung / Guitarist
"Her name sure looks good there, doesn't it?" Her mother leaned into her side and smiled. "She's so talented. Getting the lead role."
"And we have Siwon to thank." She smiled back and looked down to where Yoongi's name was listed as the pianist.
Her eyebrows furrowed as she remembered Roseanne's conversation from earlier. With her cheer mate Jimin and class friend of Yoongi's.
Lisa began glancing around the many heads of people in the bleachers. Finding the slicked back hair of a platinum blonde and determining it was the male cheerleader.
An unknown person sitting beside him, who he was chatting with.
There was a moment where she found herself about to stand and question the boy about Yoon, but the lights in the gym dimmed even further, before a single spotlight appeared on the stage.
Centered on the curtains that were still down.
Her full attention was on the spotlight until a shadow appeared on the side of the stage, walking towards it before standing within the bright pool of light and smiling.
"Good evening everyone." Siwon spoke into the mic he was holding, illuminated for all to see. "My name is Choi Si-won and I'm the director of this performance. As well as the teacher to this talented bunch."
"Now if you all have your pamphlets I'm sure you'll see that we will be playing a wide variety of different songs. Starting with one of my own that I composed with the thought in mind of making each and everyone of my students stand out."
"I hope everyone here enjoys watching and listening to these kids as much as I have. And takes away from all this that music is something that connects us all, as one. No matter how it's being sung or played. Thank you again for coming, and please, enjoy."
Siwon then bowed and quickly slipped inside the curtain as people clapped for him quietly, and the spotlight slowly faded.
They were all left sitting patiently in the dim space as the faint sounds of instruments being shuffled and lifted could be heard.
Several families slipping in from the now closing gym doors and taking up any remaining seats. Some opting to stand as people were squishing in, shoulder to shoulder.
A full house.
Suddenly, the curtains began lifting at a slow, yet steady pace. Everyone sitting up in anticipation as the spotlight slowly returned, centered on the piano.
Making it shine bright white and illuminate the space and students around it.
The vocal point of the room and performance.
And seated behind it was... Chaeyoung?
Her mother and her looked to one another at the same time. Both mouthing Chaeyoung's name to each other, before looking immediately back to the stage as a few stray piano keys could be heard.
Lisa's eyes focused in on Rosie as the Australian closed her eyes and nervously played a little more. A soft, slow building melody being played before a single guitarist strummed his hand.
Siwon, he had strummed.
And it was on Chae's guitar.
Roseanne's fingers soon picked up the pace. The other two guitarists, Wendy and that one boy from earlier, joining Siwon in gently strumming their hands.
Slowly building along with Chaeyoung, who was getting more and more into the music.
And then, as if an alarm had begun going off in the distance, the sound of a single trumpet was blowing what seemed like soft warning signs.
Lisa almost picturing the melody the piano and guitars were making as a wave. Large and incoming to the people swimming in the ocean below.
The building of the music like the building of the wave. Higher and higher. Gaining in velocity.
And like the trumpet's warnings weren't being heard, another one joined in, bellowing together until several flutists began a fast paced playing of low notes to high.
Almost resembling the cartoon music you'd hear any time a storm was approaching. Signifying the disaster about to strike, and making her imagination only expand.
Drums were soon being thumped in the background as all the students joined in on what was now a loud, but not obnoxious melody.
The music low and harmonizing before coming together in a high, until another drop was played.
Lisa's eyes watched as Rosie's hands moved from the far right of her keyboard to the far left. Quickly shifting her fingers on the keys to represent the sea in Lisa's head.
Before suddenly, everyone stopped. Well, aside from some drums as Jisoo quickly thumped each of her hands.
Right, left, right, left, right, left.
Before slamming them both down together.
It was quiet, eerily quiet. Until Rosie slipped her hand back to the far right of the piano again, and pushed down on single key.
Then another.
And another.
Followed by another.
Droplets of water coming to mind as four keys would be played in a slow, sequential order.
That slow speed picking up the pace as the trumpets faded back in. But in a louder, more upbeat rhythm. With the flutes following with a dazzling sound of harmonizing spurts of melody.
A violinist stringing a beautifully complex and high pitched accumulation of notes that made her picture birds flying happily over head.
His playing leading into the guitars and other stringed instruments as the trumpets and flutes died out.
And left only the most wonderful sounds of fingers doing quick strums and plucks on the guitar strings, accompanied by the dull build ups of the others.
Roseanne's hands were moving effortlessly and quickly along the piano as she continued to play more on the upper right side.
Keeping the notes higher and more magical sounding than the low, storm brooding ones from earlier.
Then, she heard it.
A soft, almost humming style of singing was being softly sung into a mic.
Her eyes threatening to release tears as she closed them, and let Roseanne's voice guide her through a deep green forest.
The hums turning into the kind of singing you'd hear in those Disney movies. Beautiful, and angelic. Something that was so pleasing you felt your entire body being relaxed just by the sound.
She opened her eyes as each of the other performers began joining back in. But, instead of playing their own intricate parts, they formed as one.
Together, harmonizing their instruments just like their voices.
As Rosie wasn't left singing softly alone anymore, but being accompanied by the voices of at least ten other students.
Some low, some high.
Wendy's voice she could hear was especially high. Hitting a long note that guided Roseanne into one of her own.
A sudden outpour of pure emotion overtaking the gymnasium as the two girls seemed to be having a battle of voices.
Singing past one another, higher and higher, until all of the instruments in the room seemed to be playing out one final, long and fluent note.
Accompanying the girls' harmonizing high note of their own.
Then, it ended.
And the spotlight's light when out.
She felt a tear escape her eye, before the gym erupted in loud claps. Almost thundering as it shook the very stands they were seated on.
Lisa joining in of course. Standing up and whistling as best as she could. Praying Rosie could somehow hear it and tell it was her.
Her heart was beating so fast in excitement as her claps slowly faded and tears began to trickle down more. An overwhelming feeling of being so freaking proud of her girlfriend leaving her emotional.
But at least she wasn't alone, as her mom stood up and put an arm around her. Lisa looking to her mother's teary eyes, and glossy eyed step father beside her.
Just then, a strum of a guitar could be heard and anyone who was still left standing, including herself, sat back down.
Lisa watched in anticipation as the curtains lifted again, and it was revealed that Wendy had strummed the guitar within the fresh spotlight.
The girl began singing a cover to a popular Korean song from at least a decade before. Other performers began joining in, Chaeyoung being one of the last ones.
Lisa knew a little bit of the song, but she could still tell it had been modified to include everyone.
Every instrument any of those students played was included, and she knew it must have taken a lot of effort on Siwon's part to make it all work.
Then on the students playing those parts, taking months of practice to be prepared for tonight.
Especially with the fact Chaeyoung had told her there were at least seven full length covers on top of the opening score Siwon had put together.
Which still left her mind blown at the talent their gym teacher had.
Lisa was brought from her thoughts by another voice joining Wendy's. That voice, being Chaeyoung's rich vibrato, only adding to the rather soulful song.
It lulled her, making her unconsciously sway side to side as she listened to the singing and playing.
Rosie was taking over now, as Wendy's voice faded out and Chae continued the song on her own. Some boys had began singing with her too, but only for some background vocals.
In a sense, this was now Rosie's song. Led by Wendy, but finished out by her girl.
And Lisa loved it.
~
She had the biggest smile stretched across her face as she watched Jisoo sing into the mic.
The raven haired girl centered in between the spaced out circle of students that were playing the selected instruments for the song.
It was a lot slower, but perfectly suited Jisoo's deeper, yet full voice. And she hated to admit, she hasn't really heard Chu sing before.
So now, many of compliments were due to the older girl as her voice was just as mesmerizing as Rosie's. A different kind, yet they contrasted nicely and still left you wanting more.
The low instruments with Jisoo's voice really was one to relax you, rock you almost to a half asleep, calmed state.
One where you were still conscious enough to hear and understand it, yet calmed to the point where you felt untouched by the world.
But Jisoo's voice wasn't only deeper, as she had just begun to sing a bit higher, and Lisa was left pretty awestruck as the song ended and lights went out.
People immediately began to clap and yet, before Lisa even could herself, a shout was made from the crowd in front of her.
"Kim Jisoo-yah!"
She recognized the voice the second she heard it and immediately began searching heads. Finding the petite girlfriend of the previous singer standing beside Jisoo's parents.
"That's my girl!" Jennie shouted before taking her seat and chatting with the happy looking mother and father as a spotlight returned onto the fallen curtains.
Lisa watched as a well built body began making it's way over to the light. And she obviously recognized it as Siwon's.
"Well?" Siwon spoke into his mic with a smile once being illuminated before them. "What are we thinking? They're good right?"
People began clapping and whistling, Lisa and her parents included, before quieting down for Siwon to speak again.
"Ah, I'm glad to hear that." Siwon smiled with a light chuckle. "My students worked really hard to prepare this all for you and I'm so incredibly happy they've had this big of a turn out for all of their efforts."
"Yet, It has now come to the part in the show where I say that we do only have one song left, and it's one that is very special to us. Before the students preform it though, I would just like to reiterate why we are here today." Siwon spoke calmly.
"For the past school year here, there hadn't been a music class. The reason for that was, some factuality felt music wasn't as important as the other extra curricular classes that could be taken. So they did away with it."
"We're only here today because one of my students decided that music was important, and created a petition last year to prove it. And prove it she did, since she got many of the school's students to sign it. Saying they indeed played an instrument, even just in hobby, my own daughter included."
Lisa's eyes widened and smiled brightened as she looked to her mom after hearing the way Siwon regarded Chaeyoung.
Even though they haven't been super close for too long, Siwon really did feel like a part of the family. And he is now, for every family oriented thing that they do.
"Having you guys here to witness them proves to us that you care about music just as much as we do." Siwon smiled. "So thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. For supporting music and supporting the way our kids choose to express themselves through it."
Lisa felt her heart warm as people clapped for Siwon and the man put up his mic less hand.
"You have all been an amazing audience." Siwon announced before gesturing with the bob of his head and tilt of his hand to the curtain.
"Behind those curtains is our last years, who will be graduating several months from now. They will actually be the ones preforming this last song, as a kind of send off to themselves and high school."
"They got together and selected the song that they would like to play and I will like to say it is especially touching and I hope you all enjoy it well. Thank you." Siwon bowed and waved before heading off the darkening stage and leaving them to clap before waiting on the edge of their seats.
She was pretty excited to hear this last song, given Chaeyoung wouldn't hint to it at all. Only saying that she would be singing, and Lisa would have to wait and see.
So here she was, waiting and ready to see.
The curtain then began to rise, slowly, and the spotlight returned to the stage.
There was a smaller amount of instruments circled amongst each other and chairs, located center stage. Yet the seats themselves were vacant.
Just then, a screen Lisa hadn't noticed before illuminated in a soft purple hue, creating a backdrop behind the stage before them.
And once it was lit, Lisa could see the silhouette of students standing in front of it. Hidden within the dark, yet the long cascading hair a shadow had gave her Rosie away to her.
People clapped quietly as the performers began walking forward and were lit by the spotlight once entering it's rays.
Lisa watched all her classmates that would be graduating with her, about five of them in the class, as they took their seats behind or beside their instruments.
Rosie sitting at the piano once again.
All the students looked to one another and nodded slowly, before looking out to them one last time.
She watched as Chaeyoung scanned the crowd, and Lisa tried her best to sit higher and outwards more, but her girlfriend's eyes fell to the piano not long after.
And Lisa was left slumping back down, and watching as a boy, who she believed was the one who played the violin earlier, held up what appeared to be a cello or bass.
He brought it closer to his body as he sat in his chair and looked to Chaeyoung for apparent confirmation.
Rosie quickly glanced to everyone around her before doing a slight head tilt, and music suddenly began echoing throughout the room.
The boy on the rather large instrument playing a low melody that resembled a vibrato. His fingers quickly moving the string as he pulled the bow across it slowly.
Chaeyoung then played a set of four keys, softly pressing another four more after, in a calm pattern.
Lisa furrowed her brows as the tune sounded familiar, but she couldn't pin point it.
- "I Was Here" Beyoncé -
"I wanna leave my footprints on the sands of time. Know there was something that, meant something that, I left behind."
Lisa's eyes softened at Chaeyoung voice as the Aussie played the piano carefully with a bass guitarist joining in.
The song now being one she remembered. And one she knew hearing Rosie sing, would break her.
"When I leave this world, I'll leave no regrets. Leave something to remember, so they won't forget." Chae sang. "I was here. I lived, I loved. I was here. I did, I've done."
"Everything that I wanted and it was more than I thought it would be. I will leave my mark so everyone will know, I was here..."
Wendy began quickly moving fingers and a pick against strings as she played an electric guitar along with the other players.
Jisoo taking in a deep breath before she apparently would begin singing with Chae.
"I wanna say I lived each day, until I die. And know that I meant something in somebody's life." Chaeyoung looked up to the stands, scanning. "The hearts I have touched, will be the proof that I leave. That I made a difference, and this world will see."
"I was here." Wendy played her guitar once more. "I lived, I loved. I was here. I did, I've done. Everything that I wanted and it was more than I thought it would be. I will leave my mark so everyone will know."
"I was here." Rosie sang loudly, and Lisa felt herself beginning to cry due to the emotion and words.
"I lived, I loved. I was here. I did, I've done. Everything that I wanted and it was more than I thought it would be. I will leave my mark so everyone will know. I was here..."
Wendy and Jisoo accompanying her with singing the last word, as well as continuing with her as Chaeyoung's eyes kept searching the stands.
"I just want them to know. That I gave my all, did my best. Brought someone some happiness." Their eyes finally met as Chaeng found her in the crowd with teary eyes of her own.. "Left this world a little better just because..."
Lisa wiped her eyes and smiled proudly.
"I was here..." Chaeyoung sang quietly, before closing her eyes and taking in a deep breath.
"I was here. I lived, I loved. I was here. I did, I've done everything that I wanted and it was more than I thought it would be. I wanna leave my mark so everyone will know."
"I was here." Everyone sang together, continuing out the rest of the song as Rosie sang in her natural vibrato for each 'I was here' before ending it out.
"I was here..." The blonde whispered into the mic. Jisoo's slight drum playing being the last sound to be heard before the room went dark and quiet.
The curtain falling down in a soft thud.
Lisa never realized how quickly her heart was beating or how many tears she was loosing, until she looked to her mom and smiled at the emotional face her mother was wearing, mirroring hers.
Even Marco was rubbing his eyes as he was holding her mom's hand.
"Wow..." Her mom chuckled sadly while wiping away at her own tears.
"Wow indeed." Lisa rubbed her eyes and tried to halt her sniffing as people erupted in claps all around them.
Lisa stood up, still wiping her tears on her arms, as she clapped and whistled loudly. Before Rosie's name left her lips several times, filling her with such warmth and proudness.
As everyone gave a standing ovation, the curtains began to rise once more and music playing faintly from the gym speakers accompanying it.
The audience was greeted with the class, including Siwon, standing hand in hand across the stage. People clapped and whistled louder as all the performers bowed ninety degrees.
She smiled toothlessly and clapped more as she watched as Chaeyoung lifted herself back up, with tears in her eyes.
Jisoo immediately hugged her, Wendy joining in too, as they all celebrated doing a flawless performance.
Rosie then looked up and found her again, their eyes meeting and the both of them smiling through their tears as Lisa mouthed an 'I'm so proud of you'.
Chaeyoung smiled again before her smile faded and she began to cry. Not just tears in her eyes as she turned and held onto Wendy who was still standing beside her.
As Jisoo had ran up into the crowd, to join her parents and Jennie.
Lisa watched as some other students made their way to the stands, or people from the stands down to them.
She quickly shimmied her way out of the row she was in and ran down the steps to the floor below, where she jumped up onto the stage.
Roseanne looked to her just as Lisa cupped her cheeks with both her hands and used her body to push and walk the Australian backwards.
Behind the partially opened curtain where she rubbed Rosie's cheeks and kissed her longingly, out of sight from the audience that was conversing.
"I'm so proud of you." She whispered against her lips and smiled. "God, you did so amazing Rosie."
Lisa leaned back and frowned at Chaeyoung's tear filled eyes. She wiped them away and kissed each of her cheeks. "My baby's a performer."
Rosie giggled and nodded. "I tried my best."
She dropped her hands to Chaeng's waist and squeezed the curves within the white dress beneath them. "You were perfect. It was perfect."
"Yes it was." Marco's voice echoed as her parents approached them. She smiled and released Rosie as her mom engulfed her girlfriend in a hug.
"Chaeyoung, you were so fantastic." Her mom spoke while kissing Rosie's cheek. "And on the piano no less! It was beautiful honey... I never knew you could play the piano that well."
"I did." Siwon spoke while walking over. She smiled and hugged him as he continued. "You can tell how great of a musician she is by the way she talks about it. Music." Siwon grinned.
Lisa released him and looked to her mom, but primarily Chae, with furrowed brows. "Let me guess, no Yoongi?"
Rosie shook her head and Lisa ran a hand through her hair. "Well, I'm not surprised, considering I never saw him." She sighed. "But he should be thankful you were able to play his parts."
"We all are." Siwon smiled and patted her back. She looked to the taller man beside her and smiled. Nodding her head as he looked to Chaeng.
"We really are all extremely thankful to you Chae. I heard some of the other students thanking you while speaking with their families and friends. You were really needed on that piano tonight."
"I'm glad I was able to play it then." Chaeyoung smiled. "And thank you guys for coming to support us." Rosie spoke while looking to both of the adults beside her. "And I'm glad you could get tonight off Momma Ami."
Lisa smiled as she watched her mother look to the each of them before the woman's eyes landed on her step father's.
"Actually, I didn't just get tonight off..." Her mother spoke to them. Lisa raising her brows as she approached her.
"I may have submitted my two weeks, along with my request for today off..."
"You... you're retiring?" She questioned. Her mom smiling brightly.
"Yes. I'm getting older and more and more tired everyday. Your father and I have saved up enough money, especially with selling the house in Thailand." Her mom's eyes sparkled. "Next week is my last."
Both Rosie and herself embraced her and jumped up and down excitedly. "Ahh this is so amazing Momma!" She exclaimed as they stopped and giggled.
"How about we go get some dinner to celebrate?" Her stepdad suggested. All of them nodding before he looked to Siwon. "You coming along?"
"Of course!" Siwon grinned. "Wouldn't miss it."
Lisa felt so, incredibly happy. Just knowing her mom was going to finally be able to rest after working tirelessly as a nurse, in multiple different hospitals over the years, brought so much joy.
She quickly wrapped an arm around Chaeyoung's waist as her stepdad walked her mother out from around the curtain and towards the front door.
Siwon following along behind them with Rosie's guitar, as they began chatting about how much her mom would be making on retirement.
The conversation turning to their performance again as they all walked out of the main doors of the building.
"I'm so happy."
Lisa looked over to Rosie who was leaning into her side as they walked.
"Yeah?" She smiled and pulled her girlfriend closer to her. "Me too baby."
(Chae pov)
The news that Momma Ami would be retiring was just another thing to add to her already amazing evening.
Even though she was extremely nervous for tonight, the second she sat down at that piano, she felt calm.
At peace with the forever rampant guilt and fire that seemed to always be threatening to burn something down.
The last time it heated up, it threatened to take Lisa away from her in the form of past traumas.
But now, she would keep her girlfriend close, and make sure no matter what shift would occur in their relationship, they'd mend it through words and actions.
Her father had helped guide her tonight. And he's going to continue helping to guide her through any obstacle life would through at her.
And her sister, Alice, would always be there to listen. Whenever Rosie found herself needing someone to vent to, her sister would always tell her she was there.
Chaeyoung really needed that sometimes, but not tonight.
Tonight, she was going to have an amazing dinner with her girlfriend. With Siwon, Momma Ami and Marco.
Her forever family.
"Hey..." A voice called when they nearly reached the cars. "Hey, Chaeyoung..."
Lisa and her both halted and looked to their right. Past dull, parking lot lit vehicles, until they saw a boy leaning against one.
Yoongi.
"Girls?" Marco called. "You coming?"
She glanced to Lisa and the Thai quickly replied. "One second. Warm the car for us?"
Marco chuckled. "Okay, don't be too long."
She smiled and met eyes with Siwon who seemed to be looking past her to Yoongi, before his eyes flicked back to her.
There was an understanding look in his gaze, before he said he'd follow them to whatever restaurant they decide on.
She nodded before turning her attention back to Yoongi. Taking up Lisa's hand and walking with her to the boy who was waiting with messy, unkept hair.
"Hey." He greeted again quietly.
"Hi." She replied and leaned gently on the car across from his. Lisa leaning against it beside her and eyeing Yoongi up and down.
"Trying to murder me with your eyes Manoban?" He turned to the brunette.
"Trying to, yes." Lis replied immediately.
Yoongi chuckled with a half smile before looking to the ground. "Guess it's deserved."
"Where were you tonight?" She questioned and he looked up to her slowly.
"Things had came up."
"What things?" She asked. "We're not talking about you being high thing are we? Because I thought you appreciated music... like all of us..."
"My parents finalized their divorce tonight." He stated quietly. "I love music." Yoongi defended. "But I didn't expect to come home to see their lawyers showing them where to sign, dot their i's and cross their t's."
She watched Yoongi as the boy looked away and stared off into the distance. "I chose to stay with my dad." He spoke. "Because his one request was to keep the house, and the house has the music studio."
Yoongi looked back to them. "My mom got the cars and however much money she demanded..." He sighed. "She already left to go stay at my aunts."
"I'm sorry Yoon." She replied earnestly. "That's not something I'd want anyone to have to go through."
"Except I did, and they of course chose today of all days to do it." He shook his head. "I'm really sorry for missing the performance, I just... I couldn't bring myself out of the haze I was in after going through everything."
"I met one of my friends here, again, to get high. Since I can't smoke weed at the house..." He scratched his neck. "But then I heard you playing and I... I stayed and listened against the school wall."
Yoongi gestured to the side of the building with his head.
"I honestly didn't feel that bad for missing it. Only because I knew you guys would be fine without me." He smiled to her sadly. "You played great. Assuming it was you on the piano, right?"
She nodded and he released a chuckled breath. "See? So it all worked out in the end. You didn't need me."
"It's true that I may have played your parts fine, but it would have been better if you were there." She admitted. "You're an ass, but it would have felt more complete having your attitude present than not at all."
Yoongi chuckled before Lisa cleared her throat. "And about that attitude..." Lis titled her head, over towards her.
"Yeah... yeah." He sighed. "Maybe I owe you an apology." Yoongi spoke to her. "I'm sorry Chaeyoung."
"You saved everyone's ass today, and all I've been doing is hounding your music skills." He reached out his hand and she accepted the shake. "You're a great musician. As I thought, and tried to deny."
She smiled and squeezed his hand. "And you're not heartless."
He withdrew his hand and placed it over his heart. "Wow, thought I was heartless?"
"Only a little." She leaned into Lisa's side as the Thai whispered that the adults were still waiting. "Anyways, we need to head to dinner." She announced to Yoongi while they got off the car.
"No worries." He replied, while unlocking and opening the door. "Enjoy your dinner guys."
"Thanks." Lisa replied while beginning to pull her towards the cars.
"Yoon?" She called while backpedaling.
"Yeah Chae?"
"A piece of advice?" He stood waiting. "Find a habit other than smoking..." She suggested softly. "Take it from me, it doesn't help. Not in the long run."
"Then what should I do Chae?"
"Fall in love." She smiled. "With someone or something. Even if it's falling in love with something for the second time. Do it again. Love it again."
Yoongi nodded and she said her goodbye as Lisa lifted her off her feet. Carrying her to the car bridal style.
"Fall in love?" Lisa whispered while looking to her and she nodded happily. Quickly leaning in and kissing Lisa's lips.
Lisa hummed after they parted and sat her gently down on the ground. Opening the car door for her and placing a hand on her back.
"I'm so happy we fell in love."
She smiled and felt as her whole body tingled. From head to toe, she felt the warmth over take her just by hearing Lisa's words.
"We're still falling baby." She replied while cupping Lisa's face and running her thumb over her bottom lip. "A little more, as each day goes."