New Melody
Ch.00: Prologue – Tragedy
Nodame looked out the window, shocked by what the doctor had just said while Chiaki sat beside the hospital bed and looked at Nodame with concern. He knew that if he'd ever lose his ability to play the piano, he would feel exactly like Nodame right now. He wouldn't be able to bear it.
But, his niche was in conducting not playing the piano. For Nodame, the piano was what she had and couldn't do without. Therefore, he couldn't imagine the pain Nodame was going through.
Still, Nodame kept on gazing out the window, as if something was getting her attention. She didn't utter a single word after talking to the doctor and neither did Chiaki. Silence filled the room. But it was soon broken by Chiaki's ringtone.
"I've got to go… I have to attend practice. I'm sorry, Nodame," he said quietly and carefully as if he'd offended her. Nodame didn't reply after a while but Chiaki didn't dare to leave.
"I'm leaving, okay?" There was still no answer from Nodame. Chiaki felt that it's best for her to be alone and he reached for the door, fast but quietly. And, silence filled the room once more.
Tears rolled down Nodame's cheeks as soon as Chiaki left. She didn't want Chiaki to see her cry and then, pity her. She thought about what she would do now. Piano, or rather, music was her life. What could she do without it?
She felt even worse as she glanced at her hand phone strap. It was a black strap with musical notes and clefs. How could she bear with everything when surrounded by music? She didn't know what to do – what to do without music in her life.
She stared intently at her left hand, the cause of her sudden inability to play the piano. She was cursing at it.
She had time – one month in the hospital before her discharge to think over certain things.