I'm sorry this is taking so long. Thanks to those who reviewed. :) You guys motivated me to write this.
Dear Johnny,
I haven't slept in what feels like days. Every time my eyes close, they shoot back open. Your face engraved in my mind. Why must you haunt me? My hand is shaking as I write this down. My friend Darlene came over the other day. I had a hard time letting her in. She spent about 3 hours convincing me it was her and not you dressed up as her. She told me I should get out. Get some fresh air in these dusty lungs. I could barely force myself to step foot outside. Once the breeze hit my flesh I was on the floor crying. I can't do this anymore, Johnny. I can't keep being scared of you. I can't keep turning around to check if you're behind me each and every second of every single day. I'm so hungry, but I can't bring myself to eat. I'm so tired, but I can't bring myself to sleep. My floorboards just creaked. If you're in my house. I'm ready for you. I'm not going to be scared of you. Not anymore.
Looks like it was just my house "settling," as my estranged father like to say when I was younger. I just looked at the clock. Its 3:37 AM. I looked out the blinds, coast is clear. I could of sworn I saw you outside of my window yesterday. You were gone before I could even take a breath. Maybe that's why I can't sleep. Because you're always here. You're always near me. I got to tell you the truth. I'm tired of talking about you. I'm tired of writing about you. I'm tired of thinking about you. So let's talk about me. I took up the piano. My therapist thought it'd be good for me. My parents forced me to take lessons when I was younger. I hated the damn thing. But its funny how fast it all came back to me. Each note, each chord brought back memories for me. Good memories, but mostly bad.
It was a Sunday evening. The perfect time of the day. When afternoon met night and the air was crisp. A tired looking woman struggles with holding a pan with her thin arms. Black and blue bruises extremely visible on her porcelain skin. Her left eye hidden under swelling. She places the pan on the stove and walks over to the fridge. Her thin legs look like toothpicks about to snap, as they hold up her slim frame. Her dark blond hair tied back in a messy ponytail. She grabs a spatula from a drawer and walks back.
"Hey sweetie, How do you want your grilled cheese? Burnt or extra burnt?" She yells to the next room.
"Extra burnt!" A small voice answers.
The woman smiles a broken smile as she flips the month old bread. It's been a good day. Devi's father had left early that morning after the alcohol wore off. He needed to keep it fresh in his veins. Devi's mother was up all night taking each and every punch and kick he threw at her. Earning her a new bruise right above her waist. They weren't always like this. They were once happily married. They were once happy parents. It was about the time that Devi turned 5 when love was no longer strong enough.
Devi's mother had stayed up all night. Waiting for her husband to get home. He got home late, claiming he was working overtime. She looked him straight in the eye and knew that was not even close to the truth. Yet, she told him she believed him. It happened twice after that. One day, as Devi's father left for work, she strapped Devi into the car and followed him. He was in a unfamiliar neighborhood when she finally saw what she expected, but didn't want. A beautiful woman stepped out of a small, cozy house. Tan, thin legs and long, black hair. She walked with a certain twist in her hips. He collected her in his arms gladly as she planted tiny kisses all over his face. She placed his hand in hers and guided him up the driveway and into the home. He followed, only looking behind him once to catch a glimpse of his wife and his precious daughter driving away. That's when things went from bad to worst. The woman convinced Devi's father that she loved him and that he loved her. When she asked for the money, he didn't even think twice before writing the check. When he arrived to her house for their daily rendezvous, he found something he least expected. She was gone. Her, her things and his money. Leaving him and his family dirt poor. He spent hours at the bar, drinking down dozens of drinks. He made his way home and found his wife making her way out. She didn't have to say anything. Even through his intoxicated rage, he knew she was leaving him. But he just couldn't have that. Thats when the first hand flew, roaring over the soft piano melody. Devi witnessed the whole thing.
What Devi's mother never knew, was that Devi and her father has a special kind of bond. When he didn't come home rip roaring drunk, he would sneak into Devi's room to check on her. She woke up one night as her father was closing the door.
"Daddy?"
The door opened back up.
"Yes, Princess?"
"I think theres.. a monster under my bed."
A crooked smiled appeared on his rugged face. He made his way to her bed.
"No honey, that's just the house settling. You're just getting used to the sounds." The five year old still had a worried look on her tiny face. He let out a sigh and dropped onto his knees and lifted up the pink and purple blanket. He peered into the darkness for a few seconds then came back up.
"Monster?"
"No monster, sweetie."
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. He stroked her hair.
"Devi. No matter what Daddy does or no matter what Daddy says. I will always love you no matter what."
By then the child was far away in dreamland. He placed a small kiss on her forehead and made his way out of the room.
A small note played in the air as the seven year old played the keyboard. The door swung open as Devi's tiny fingers pressed the keys. She looked up at her father. He gave her one look and swaggered his way into the kitchen. She continued to play a beautiful melody as shouting began. Hmmm...Hmmmm...Hmmmm... She hummed to herself. Another chord. Another spew of foul language.
"DON'T YOU DARE WALK AWAY FROM ME!" A deep voice shouted as loud footsteps entered the room.
"SEE! THIS IS WHY I'VE BEEN TRYING TO LEAVE YOU! YOU'RE SO DAMN CONTROLLING!"
"Controlling? CONTROLLING?"
"YEAH!"
Devi's father walked back into the kitchen. Her mothers back was now turned to the kitchen doorway. Unable to see her husband returning with the pan in his hand. He swung it over his head. Devi let out a little yelp, unable to get the words unstuck from her throat. Her mother turned around as the pan was about to hit her square in the forehead. Devi continued to play, but then the notes came to a halt. Her mother quickly held up her boney arm as the pan hit her forearm. The contact made both a cracking and a shattering sound. Her mother fell to the floor with a thud. The pan dropped out of his shaking hands. He reached up to his face and ran a hand through his hair. He bolted to the door and as he stepped out he took one last look at Devi. A small, fragile child. Her chest rising and falling frantically. He opened his mouth. It was barely above a whisper and barely audible. If she were to take a breath she would of missed it.
"Bye bye, Princess."
Devi made her way to the piano. Her therapist had it specially delivered. She took a deep breath and allowed her trembling fingers onto the cold keys. The wooden chair creaked as she shifted from one side to another. The first chord rang out into the silent night and then another. Until they flowed.
Outside of the house, a thin, tall man leaned against the side of the house. He stayed close to the window, listening closely to every note played. He leaned his head against the paint cracked wall. The music stopped for a moment, but continued playing. He placed his fingertips onto the cold glass window. Subconsciously, he began to pry it open.
Devi's back was turned to the window and she was too involved with the beautiful music she was creating to have heard the window click open. Nny's feet were planted against the windowpane and his knees were brought up, tucked closely to his chest. His hands resting uneasily next to his feet. A slow chill slithered down Devi's back. The music finally came to a complete stop and her eyes were closed as she listened to the silence.
"Devi."
His voice was soft and tender yet strong and deep. She opened her eyes and rotated herself on the seat. She lifted her head to meet his gaze.
"Nny."
A/N: Ahhhh.. I thought it was time they finally reunited. :) Please review! I love reviews! They're like cookies:)