The piano once again broke into its melody, each key pounding to the irregular beat of my heart. The tune did nothing to lift my spirits, but further impeded my judgment. With each sinuous note, another predicament drifted wistfully into my head. My finger was drifted to a curl of mud brown hair, which I twisted pensively, bobbing my ankle.
I could feel the waitress eyeing me, exasperated. I murmured his name softly under my breath, scanning the street. Nothing appeased my efforts, to my great disappointment. Shutting my eyes, I tried to remember how life used to be, without such qualms.
Through my reverie, I barely noticed the soft lips against my rouge cheek. The stench brought me back to reality, however. The putrid aroma was enough to cause anyone to leap from their skins. My lids fluttered open, met by his presence across from me. My voice hitched within my throat, and I blinked at him dazedly. I couldn't bring myself to interject, but I felt I must.
Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
And you begin to wonder why you came
I fingered the ring on my left hand, breathing gradually. I couldn't bring myself to it. He asked me politely what was wrong, an expression of utmost concern splayed across his features.
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
With a stroke of courage, I told him of my worries. By now, however, the effects of his intoxication were beginning to take course. The blood boiled in his face, addling his judgment.
Let him know that you know best
Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
And pray to God he hears you
And pray to God he hears you
Gaining audacity, I continued. By the look on his face, I was doubtful that he was absorbing any sugar coated word. With each syllable, I felt the knot in my stomach tightening.
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Finally, I had said all that could be. He had remained unspoken for throughout my entire lecture, until now. His rage refused to be caged, and it spilled scornfully from his mouth. A single pearlescent tear rolled from my lash, traveling to my chin without notice. My voice quivered as I pleaded, but he refused again and again, parrying my efforts.
As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you've followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he'll say he's just not the same
And you'll begin to wonder why you came
Vigorously shaking his head, I watched as he stood, the color draining from my face. Throwing his napkin on the table before me, his heel turned, and he disappeared behind the swinging doors. In horror, I blinked at the empty chair.
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Even I wasn't sure how long I sat there in silence. But by the time I stood to leave, the entire restaurant had emptied.
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Throughout the entire night, I clutched my pillow, numb. Under the covers, my body shook in anticipation. When the phone rang at 3 A.M., I knew fate had performed its nasty duty. It was over.
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
How to save a life
Under a bent willow on Benson Street, a single white rose bush perches, shaded by a smooth slate of marble. A ray of strained sunlight shines just brightly enough so that an onlooker can barely make out a delicate inscription upon the rock. In Loving Memory of Tom Quincy, it reads.