As Dan and I walk down the street, he starts to hum a familiar tune. It's clearly the piano piece he's been learning recently I realize after a few notes. The first time I heard it I was shocked by the nostalgia it gave me. I couldn't tell what song it was though.
He just laughed and feigned looking a bit offended. I started humming it for my mum when I called her the next night, and she laughed and said "Tiny Dancer by Elton John" I was flooded by memories of jumping around while it played in the background. It was a memory filled song. So when Dan hums it when we're in public, I just join in. He starts to softly sing it for me, slinging his arm around my neck. I laugh at how confident and carefree he seems.
Blue Jean baby
L.A. lady
Seamstress for the band
Pretty eyes
Pirate smile
You'll marry a music man
Ballerina
You must've seen her
Dancing in the sand
Now she's in me
Always with me
Tiny dancer in my hand
Jesus freaks
Out in the street
Handing tickets out for god
Turning back
She just laughs
The boulevard is not that bad
Piano man
He makes a stand
In the auditorium
Looking on
She sings the songs
The words she knows the tune she hums
But oh how it feels so real
Lying here
With no one near
Only you
And you can't hear me
When I say softly
Slowly
At this point, we're laughing our way into the street, the crosswalk quite empty. He and I look at each other and he suddenly swings out so we're both just touching fingers.
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day toda-
His words are cut off as a car slams into him, unseen when approaching. I scream and run to where he landed. The driver of the car just honks and goes around. My insides are melting. Dan, my dan, the boy I watched grow up, is completely still. I try to scream but nothing comes out. Someone is calling 999 and people are crowding around us. Dans eyes flutter open, his chest barely moving. "Phil don't go," he whispers, but he doesn't even realize as he ends up leaving instead. Someone hugs me, sirens scream in my ears. I finally manage to scream. My best friend is gone. No. He's not. He is. A voice in the back of my head cries, and I feel the urge to slap myself. HE'S GONE. Dan I won't leave you. But why did you leave me?