Sydney: Season Five

by CRebel

Sydney escapes Terminus, but her problems aren't over. Her estranged mother sleeps a stone's throw away, her relationship with her father becomes increasingly strained, and her boyfriend remains oblivious to one of her darkest secrets. Eventually, even Sydney's sanity falls into question. And the apocalyptic world doesn't care. - Story continued in *Sydney: Mercy Prevails*

27. Nine Years Old

The beautiful thing about "Nocturne" is that there are no lyrics. There don't have to be lyrics. Don't get me wrong, some lyrics – especially those written by Billy Joel – are great. But he knew, I think, that "Nocturne" doesn't need words to make you close your eyes and fade and become something other than you, something stronger and better and wiser.

I know this song so well now but I never get tired of playing it. Papaw says I sound just like Billy Joel, and he's joking, of course, but I am good. But – it isn't about being good. It's about feeling.

And sitting here in my living room, I feel – how do I feel? As my fingers fly across the piano and somehow, somehow call up this beautiful, beautiful song, how do I feel? Happy isn't the right word. I feel . . . at peace.

But, no, it's more than that, even.

I feel like I could sit here and play for the rest of all time. The world could fall apart around me, Mom could stay in her room with that bottle of Jack Daniels, Dad could miss as many weekends as he has to, and I will be fine. Better than fine – powerful. Powerful and good. Because as long as I play it, I am part of this song, we belong to each other. "Nocturne" might come from my hands, but it circles around me, slips into my blood and heart, and makes me so much more than I am. No words, no singing. Just me and the piano, the music, together, one thing. And as long as I play, nothing bad can happen. As long as I play, everything is alright.