1. Christopher Goyle

If someone asked me now about my teenage phase I would remember first of the three young people I met in a lost night of Liverpool in the Cavern Club in that little city forgotten. But I wasn't worried about that when I got there in the first place. I was worried about how would I survive away from London. Ian, Grace and Emma were the ones who shared with me a dream, a dream so like all the others young people like us that gathered all weekends looking for a brand new idea to start something new… Today I know we lived in times of changes, and I'm proud I belong to that time, I made my part on history.

I wasn't a little boy when I first saw that sad little town called Liverpool, I was 15 years old actually and I didn't want to be there. My father had died recently and my mother decided to return to the place from where she had struggled so hard to escape when she was my age, then I had to go with her. Everything that I judged to be real and settled wasn't there any longer. It was as if I had lost my place in the world. Somehow, I did. So, when I first saw that little town, the first thing that came to my mind was: prison. That was a cage. I understand now how wrong I was then.

The house that would become my home wasn't big, it was quite little. I hated it when I saw it. I hated that town. I hated those dark walls, I hated the houses destroyed by the war… I hated the new neighbours… I hated so much that I wasn't strong enough to hate something else. But I didn't say anything to my mother. I knew she was suffering. I knew she hated to be back as much as I hated to get into that town. I missed London, I missed my friends. My mother missed my father, more than I did. And my father wouldn't be back home anymore. We knew that. I could still write to my friends… So, I could keep feeling sorry for my mother and be sad for my father.

But I was alive. That was something that I knew my mother had to accept. My father died, but I was alive. That was what really mattered. She was alive, and I'd take care of her. But first, I had to find some answers.

I don't quite remember all the things I did when I got in Liverpool. I remember myself alone in my room, looking by the window, old songs in my mind… Sad songs. My father loved them. I remember myself trying to stop tears from falling… I felt miserable. I felt as if I had died. Somehow, I was dead. But I was ready to reborn from ashes. Though I didn't know that when I was there, facing the people on the streets, the young people singing…

I still remember, though, what took me to the Cavern Club that night… My mother was drunk, and I couldn't stand to see her that way. I had to go out, or I'd be as sick as she was. I had to do that. It was as if I was suffocating and wanted to survive. I was following my instincts. Where should I go ? To the only place I could in Liverpool. "Johnny and The Moon Dogs" were playing. I looked at the musicians on the little stage, playing Elvis Presley, and I remember I liked them. Not that they played their guitars specially well, but by their behavior on stage. They seemed so… Like me. They were doing everything that me, in my insides, wished to do myself. I was and always would be a shy boy, someone who never starts a conversation, but still is someone people miss… I was that kind of guy when I was 15 years old.

You could hardly imagine how did I feel when I stepped on that girl's little foot… I remember it was little, because the girl was tall. It was odd, those little feet. I looked at her, she was taller than me. I felt a bit… Embarrassed because of that, but I tried to hide. I think I blushed, because the girl smiled and said:

- Oh, you don't need to be ashamed of nothing… I am the one to blame. I'm sorry.

- No, I am sorry.

I don't remember speaking it, though I heard myself doing it. I looked at her, she was so beautiful, and my heart didn't stop jumping in my chest… I hated that feeling. It felt like I was exposing myself… Like an artist on a stage. Like Johnny and his Moon Dogs. "Twist and shout…" they were singing…

- I'm Christopher…Goyle. - I told her suddenly.

The two girls that joined her giggled. I cursed them in my mind. If they knew people giggling makes you feel uncomfortable… Maybe they wouldn't do it.

- I'm Grace Lofton. You're new around here ? Never saw you before.

- Yes, I came from London. I had never been here before.

- London ? Wow, why did you leave it ?

- My… Father died.

She put her hand over her mouth, as if ashamed. She went pale, and the girls stopped giggling. It was as if I had come to them and had pointed them a gun and said: 'that's a robbery!' But I didn't do anything like that.

- Oh, I'm…So…Sorry.

- That happens, you didn't know. It's normal to ask. Please, don't worry about that.

She didn't seem convinced. Nor the girls with her. Because they kept complete silence.

- Why don't you show me where I can get something to drink ?

I tried to break the ice. My sudden question astonished myself. But I didn't let her see that.

- Oh, follow me…

I followed her… And I tell you… I know I would follow her forever. That was the day I'd never forget. That was my day. No one would take that away from me. I'll take that with me when I die. Sometimes I like to think following Grace was my task in this world… I ask myself now: what would be Grace's task in this world ? Certainly wouldn't be to show me the drinks… I always thought something big for her. Something glorious, like herself. I wonder where is she right now…