Act 42: Catherine
I can't breathe.
This is unreal. I must be dreaming. Of course I'm dreaming, to be honest I had my suspicions on my awaken state, the day has been too perfect to be true.
"Cath?" I hear my name but couldn't say who spoke.
I look up and sure enough everybody is still there, looking at me, wondering what the problem is. There's a burning sensation in my chest and that's when I remember that I have to breathe.
I come closer to the guitar case and examine the instrument closer. The familiar stickers …
Small lines are marring the wood under the fresh coat of lacquer confirming that it is indeed my old guitar. By some miracle it was put back together.
"Oh my…" I can feel my eyes watering. "It's my guitar… Junebug…" I look at Sara, almost choking on my emotions. "How did you…" I chuckle and wipe the tears pearling at the corner of my eyes. "Wooh… alright sorry everyone, I'm okay," I assure my guests. "I'm overwhelmed."
I take a deep breath to calm down. "When I was 13, I told my dad that I wanted to move people and that I'll mark the whole world with my music one day," I start and everyone chortle. "Two weeks after that conversation he came home with a guitar… this guitar right here…"
Once again I wipe my tears away. "I've played Junebug every single day, no exception… until about ten years ago, when Eddie and I moved into our house, he accidentally ran over it with the car and… well it was in pieces and it broke my heart. Everywhere I asked they said I should by another guitar because the damages were too much but it was my Junebug so… I kept it in my attic and now here it is," I beam, still not believing that this is real.
"I don't know how you did this, but… thank you," I speak to Sara before hugging her tightly to me.
"So you're not mad?" she asks tentatively.
"Mad?" I pull away to cup her face. "This is the best birthday present ever," I tell her before planting a passionate kiss on her lips.
I only break the contact when the sound of wolf whistle and applaud reach my ears. "Well, what I got from this story is that you're going to play us a little music while we enjoy our cake," Nick states and everyone encourages me.
I decide to play the first song I was ever taught, 'I Want to Hold Your Hand'. Even after years without practicing those chords are still embedded in my memory. I handle Junebug delicately afraid it'll break but it doesn't. It feels oddly surreal and yet familiar to hold it. I stroke the wood under my palm, making sure it's really there. I'm glad that the damages that once were left a mark, like battle scars all over. I'm glad Sara didn't make those disappear.
Somewhere it's like that guitar had grown up with me, it has suffered just like me. It once was broken but now has mended, just like me. I'm in awe in front of its beauty.
My hands are a bit unsteady and the chords almost cut through the pad of my fingers from lack of practice but I manage to find my marks quickly. Some things you never completely forget. I start playing and it's like getting reacquainted with an old lover, it's familiar yet it's new, it's the same yet it's completely different.
The party slowly wanes, in a couple of hours most guests are gone save from my family who stays for dinner. I don't remember the last time I felt so high while being sober. Thinking about it, I don't think I've ever been that high while being sober.
Nancy offers to keep Lindsey for the night and I don't argue, glad for the prospect to have some alone time with Sara, especially after today.
Ten minutes later we're back at my place, Sara is unloading the car bringing my gifts inside while I decide to make us some coffee. I just can't get over my euphoria.
For years, I've questioned myself, every single choice I made. For years I wondered about my life in general. Today for the first time, it feels like every pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Today, I feel at peace and just contented. It's like finding the answer to a complicated question that had haunted me all my life. Now I know that this is where I should be, that my life is exactly on its rails, that everything is how it's supposed to be.
I'm truly and unequivocally happy.
"Hey, are you alright?" Sara's concerned voice cut me out of my reverie. I frown, not understanding her inquietude. "You're crying," she states, cupping my face gently and erasing the tears rolling off my cheeks with her thumbs.
"I didn't realize…" I tell her honestly.
"What's wrong?"
I shake my head. "Nothing, that's the point," I chuckle.
She's clearly confused and I can't help but being amused. "I'm just so happy…" I smile through my tears. "You make me so happy, I…" once again words are caught in my throat. "I adore you Sara, I completely adore you."
Something expands in my chest at the sight of her smile. I'm head over heel in love with her. I still can't say it but I sure can show her.
I grab her face and kiss her hard. I can't express how I feel yet, but I can show her. If she's surprised by my intensity she quickly recovers and follows my lead.
It takes us a couple of hours to actually make it to my bed, since Lindsey isn't there we had the luxury to exploit the rest of the house.
"Wow…" Sara's breathless whisper makes me chuckle.
"Yeah…"
"Well, that was a good warm up," she props herself on her elbow and starts kissing my oversensitive skin.
Wait what…?
"Warm up?" I query slightly amused.
"Uh-huh…" she nibbles my skin sending a shiver of pleasure down my spine. "I have a last gift for you," she whispers with a sultry voice. My whole body is aching in anticipation.
"Hot damn…" I breathe out.
Indeed, hot damn.
