Forever Silent

Harry sat. Silence. He had never known silence to be so loud.

Death. And suffering. That was why she wasn't here with him.

Death. Voldemort. That was why his two beautiful children weren't laughing anymore, but lying still in their cold graves.

He looked to the piano. She was there, playing her favorite song. She looked at him, smiled, and faded away. But the piano kept playing.

He called her on the road

From a lonely, cold hotel room

Just to hear her say "I love you" one more time.

He turned back to the empty living room and choked back a sob. For there, on the worn carpet, were Anna and Will, his two little ones, playing with toy broomsticks.

And when he heard the sound

Of the kids laughing in the background

He had to wipe away a tear from his eye.

He knelt before them and tried to wrap them in his arms, but they faded as well.

"Come with us, daddy," Anna pleaded. And she was gone.

A little voice came on the phone.

And said, "Daddy, when you coming home?"

He said the first thing that came to his mind:

Harry began singing with the piano:

"I'm already there.

Take a look around.

I'm the sunshine in your hair.

I'm the shadow on the ground.

I'm the whisper in the wind.

I'm your imaginary friend.

And I know I'm in your prayers.

Oh, I'm already there."

He stopped singing and wandered through the halls, passing several photographs of his wife and children, all smiling brightly at him.

She got back on the phone.

Said, "I really miss you darling.

Don't worry 'bout the kids, they'll be alright."

He lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He turned his head to the left and there she was, crawling toward him over the bedspread.

He propped himself up on his elbows, staring wide-eyed at her. She rested her head on his shoulder as he lay back down.

"Wish I was in your arms,

Lying right there beside you.

But I know that I'll be in your dreams tonight."

He looked back up at the ceiling, comforted in her warm weight on his shoulder.

She lifted her hand off his chest to rest lightly on his right cheek, turning his head to face her. She smiled, whispered, "I love you," and gently, ever so slightly pressed her lips to his.

"And I'll gently kiss your lips.

Touch you with my fingertips.

So turn out the light and close your eyes."

She sang softly with the piano in the background:

"I'm already there.

Don't make a sound.

I'm the beating in your heart.

I'm the moonlight shining down.

I'm the whisper in the wind.

And I'll be there 'till the end.

Can you feel the love that we share?

Oh, I'm already there."

She faded slowly

He got out of bed and went to the window. Looking up at the full moon, he gasped.

For there, surrounded by the milky light, was his beloved, in a white, flowing gown, gold woven into her hair, and fluffy white wings sprouting from her shoulder blades.

We may be a thousand miles apart.

But I'll be with you,

Wherever you are.

She was floating toward him, arms outstretched.

I'm already there.

Take a look around.

I'm the sunshine in your hair.

She stood on the windowsill, smiling gently down at him.

I'm the shadow on the ground.

I'm the whisper in the wind.

And I'll be there 'till the end.

There were Anna and Will, peering at him from behind their mother. She scooped little Will up in her arms and cooed to Harry, "Come with us, darling. We miss you so much."

Can you feel the love that we share?

Oh, I'm already there.

Harry found himself standing on the windowsill in front of her. She turned and floated back up to the sky and he followed. Taking one last look at his home, he saw his own body, draped over the sill, forever silent.

He turned back and took her hand, smiling as they floated to a happy ending to their sad story.

Oh, I'm already there.