"I'm sorry, Miss Heartilly, but
we've had no contact with Loire's unit in several days…"
"…Kiros Seagill and Ward Zabac were
located yesterday, alive, but gravely wounded. Neither has regained
conciseness…but I thought you'd like to know…there's some hope…"
I saw you smiling at me, was it real, or just my fantasy?
"…Neither
Seagill nor Zabac can offer any clues as to Loire's fate. Zabac can't even
speak anymore…I'm afraid it doesn't look good…"
You'd always be there in the corner, of this tiny little
bar...
"We've declared
Loire officially Missing in Action and Presumed Dead. I'm sorry Julia…I'm so
sorry…"
How did
this happen? Julia stared out the window of her limousine, provided by
Galbadia Recording Studios to see to the comfort of it's newest star. She felt
sick, her stomach clenched into tight knots, a knot of tears in her throat that
would either break free or strangle her, her eyes aching with the need to shed
those tears. Her dream…she had always wanted this. She had always wanted her
recording contract, her big chance, the fulfillment of her dream. The chance to
share the gift of music in her soul with the world, not just with the diehard
patrons of the Galbadia Hotel's bar.
The chance
to make something of herself, the poor girl from Timber who could play the
piano and sing, but couldn't scrape together decent lyrics for the melodies
that flowed from her fingers as easily as breathing. It was all she had ever
wanted. Its realization should have been the high point of her life. Her song
was climbing the charts, she was going to make a great deal of money, she had a
recording contract in the works, and everyone was saying how beautifully she
sang, how wonderful her lyrics were…
But what
did it matter when the man who'd inspired the lyrics that were winning her so
much was dead?
Julia
looked away from the city streets, and down at her hands, folded in her lap. On
the car radio, her song played on softly.
My
last night here for you, same old songs, just once more…
Just once more. She'd give anything to sit in Galbadia's
bar and play for him just one more time…
My
last night here with you? Maybe yes, Maybe no.
It was their last night. How could she have known that at
the time?
I
kind of liked it your way, how you shyly placed your eyes on me.
Those blue eyes, watching her, with that sweet, shy smile
on his lips. She could still feel them on her now…even though she hadn't seen
their owner for months…
Oh, did you ever know, that I had mine on you?
She wished she known how he felt. When he'd left she'd been
optimistic, hopeful, about her career…and about him. Now one had soared higher
than she'd ever dreamed…and her hopes for the other were dead, along with her
shy solider, who'd dreamed of being something more.
Darling so there
you are, with that look on your face.
"Quite an honor to meet with General Caraway in person."
Her driver said conversationally. "I hear he doesn't meet with civilians much
anymore. How did you meet him?"
As if you're never hurt, as if you're never down.
Julia was
silent for a long moment, staring out the window again. Then slowly, she said,
"I…was asking about a friend of mine who was missing in action. Caraway felt
sorry for me, took the time to keep me updated about him in person, called me
to find out how I was. He was…very supportive…when I needed a friend."
"Really? That was nice of him."
Shall I be the one for you, who pinches you softly but
sure,
"Yes, it was." Julia agreed. "General Caraway has a good
heart." Despite that, she hadn't really felt like coming over for dinner when
he invited her. She was only going at the insistence of the recording studio.
The publicity of having their new star seen and associated with Galbadia's
premiere General was too good for them to let her pass it up.
If frown is shown, then I will know that you are no
dreamer…
Well, it
would probably do her some good to get out…