I woke to a start. I looked around the room, just to make sure that I wasn't dreaming anymore. The pillow was wet from sweat and tears. I had to take a few deep breaths in and out to calm down. I turned on the lamp that was on the dresser near my bed and looked at my watch. It said it was a quarter after five, so I decided to get up and go down stairs. I knew no one was going to be down there except Kai (she had told me her schedule earlier), so I figured I could help her out with breakfast.
I walked to the kitchen and saw that she had not arrived yet. I was going to sit and wait for her, but then I saw something that caught my eye. In the room right across the hallway, there was a baby grand piano. I walked into the piano room and looked at it. Its keys glistened in the light of the dawn, and its frame cast a mysterious shadow on the hardwood floor. On the stand were a few pages of music, neatly arranged across its wooden frame. I assumed Michael had left it there by accident while he was singing to Diana. (A daily thing that they do while they relax). I sat down on the piano's plush leather seat and curved my fingers over the keys, like my dad told me. I looked up at the row of sheet music and saw if I could be able to play it. I smiled as I saw the title. It was the first song my father had every taught me to learn on the piano, and it was his favorite. I closed my eyes and imagined that he was sitting right beside me as he always did when he taught me, humming the melody to help me get on the right key. I took a breath and then began to play.
Diana's POV
I woke up sore, a usual occurrence every morning. The time said it was about 5:50 in the morning, so I figured to stay up and go downstairs and help Kai. (Great minds think alike, huh?) I was careful not to wake Michael when I got up, but then again, a freight train of elephants wouldn't faze him while he was sleeping. I was beginning to go down the steps when I began to hear the most beautiful piano music I had ever heard.
I figured Michael had left a classical CD in the player from last night, but when I went to look, there was nothing there. The music still continued to play and it sounded like it was coming from the kitchen. I walked towards there to find April sitting at the piano in the music room. She had her eyes closed as she played the melody to the song, humming as she went along. I was amazed by how good she was, I had never seen this style of talent from her. I quietly listened to what she was playing, and then she began to sing.
Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by.
If you smile, with your fear and sorrow
Smile, and maybe tomorrow,
You'll see the sun com shining through
For you.
She sung with a voice similar to Michael and Janet's whenever they sung that song. I knew that she not only sung it, but she felt it in her heart. Before I even knew it, I began to sing along with her.
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be every so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just
Smile.
She continued to play the final notes of the song before she opened her eyes and looked up from the piano. Her face was stained with tracks from where her tears had fallen from her eyes. She was surprised to see me there and quickly got up from the seat. She began to apologize.
"I… I'm… I'm sorry. I… didn't mean to wake you."
"Relax," I assured her as I sat down on the bench, encouraging her to sit beside me.. "You didn't wake me up. The baby already had that covered." She sat down and sighed with relief.
"You have a beautiful voice." I added.
"Thanks, but I think yours is better than mine."
I just laughed at what she said. "Trust me, yours is better."
She laughed along with me. "Ok." Her smile quickly faded as she looked back at the song she just played. She looked back at me with pleading eyes, the remaining tears welled up in her brown eyes. Her voice faded to a whisper as she spoke.
"Please don't be mad at my dad."
I looked back at her with shock. Mad at her dad, what? I was at a total loss for words. She must have taken my shock as a fear of being found out, and she continued.
"Because, you know, it wasn't his fault he was killed. It just happened. He had even found a cure."
"A cure?" I asked, shocked to hear that Marcel had found a cure for CML.
"Mm-hmm. He was going to give it to you the next day. So please, just please, don't blame him for Billy."
I began to cry as I realized that she believed I held her father responsible for Billy's death. I hugged April and consoled her as she sobbed on my shoulder. I thought it was best to tell her the whole story.
"Shh, it's alright. I'm not mad at your dad, I never was."
I then began to tell her about what happened to Billy. I told her about when Kathy came and sang to him and how Murray had poisoned him. I could tell she was shocked by the news and she continued to cry harder. I cried along with her and that night, I believe, we truly became family.
*Breaks down crying* I'm sorry, but it's just so touching. If you are as touched as I am, please read and review. *continues to cry*
