Ti Amo written by Ken Aurborum Giovanni

6 Years Ago on May the First

Galatea stood in a corner, mindlessly plucking the melody of Tchaikovsky's violin concerto on her own violin. This night she would make her International debut as a solo violinist and if gods be willing, this will be the first of many concerts to come. She was absolutely stunning, adorned in a silk dress of silver-grey that flowed downwards to pool at her ankles, sterling silver hair that reaches her waist, piercing grey eyes that seem to tempt fate with every glance. Unfortunately her mood did not match her appearance. She should be happy. In fact, she should be experiencing euphoric mania. This thirty-five minutes of stage presence was what she had worked her entire life for, nevermind the roar of the crowd or the standing ovations or the dozens violin competitions that seem like elementary school recitals in comparison this very moment...and here lies the problem...there was no spark in her eyes.

It had been a full year since Miria's last letter…

7 Years Ago on May the First

Dear Gala,

I hope you managed to mend your reading glasses because this will be a lengthy one, indeed. As always I can't tell you where I am or what I've been up to, but I can tell you that I LOVE YOU. I hope you smiled at that, you always do...anyways...they're going to send us away...for how long? I don't know, but this will probably be the last letter I'm able to write for a while. I just wanted to say happy anniversary and before you laugh at me for being corny (I know, let me get it out of the way) I want you to know that every night when I close my eyes, all I can see is you. Whenever I get a spare moment to collect my thoughts, they always stray to you. Whenever I smoke a cigarette, I imagine you taking it out of my mouth and telling me it's a filthy habit (right after you take a drag, of course). When I pick up my rifle I can hear you yelling: "You had the whole world, kid. Where'd you put it?!". I don't know where I'm going with this...sorry for the rambling. I just really miss you...it's funny, don't you think? I told you to not let me slow you down. I told you to move on if you had to...yet here I am...tying you down...because...you don't need me, Gala...you have a future as a musician, you have goals that you've reached, and dreams to shoot for (What was the plan? International debut by 21?). Me...I need you to survive...every single moment I live, I do so for you. My future is you...my goal is you...and my dreams...you guessed it, all about you. I have nothing else to hold on to. I guess what I wanted to say was: sorry for being a hypocrite. I'm sorry it ended up like this. I just needed to get that off my chest...I love you Galatea...and I always will.

Miria

6 Years Ago on May the First

Galatea took a deep breath and collapsed on the nearby chair. She set her violin down on the nearby table and quietly let out the sobs she's been holding in.

"Gala..." Came a muffled voice from the other side of the door.

"Yes?" Galatea managed to reply without her voice cracking.

"I've got someone here who wants to see you,"

"Tell them I'm not taking any visitors at the moment," Galatea wiped away her tears with her hands.

The door opened and in walked a person in a grey military dress uniform which sported multiple medals and ribbons on the breast and lapel.

"Can you make an exception?" Miria stood there smiling wide, one arm in a sling, fresh cuts on her cheek, and estoc still hanging by her side.

Galatea stood up, still a little shaky, and walked towards Miria.

"H-how...wh-wh-why?" Galatea's voiced wouldn't go beyond a hoarse whisper.

"I wanted to watch you, dummy!" Miria gave a small laugh as she continued to beam at Galatea, "Why else would I be here?"

Galatea took a deep breath and wiped the tears from her eyes. Idle minds are such dangerous things. She took her phone out and dialed Miria's number.

"Miri?" Galatea called out when she heard the line pick up from the other side.

"Yes Gala?" Miria said with a sigh, "I'm kinda busy at the moment, are you okay?"

"I...I just wanted to say I love you…" Galatea tried holding back the next wave of tears to no avail.

"Hey sweetie, are you okay?" Miria asked, noticing the audibly hitch in Galatea's response.

"Yeah...just remembering a few things is all...I love you, Miria…"

"I know, you said that already," Miria responded with a small laugh and a huge grin. Galatea couldn't see her but she knew Miria was smiling.

"Well I'll have you know that I can never say it enough. I love you Miria," Galatea smiled and hugged her knees as she sat.

"I love you too, Gala. Immeasurably so," Miria whispered into the receiver.