Free Hitting the Right Notes by Elisa Jackson Page B

they could hug him and promise that things would get better.
    “That’s not a “‘yes or no” question babe.”
    “I called her with her stage name. She knows that I know who she is…” he finally managed in tiny miserable voice.
    “Oh no…”
    “Is she angry? Mad? Did she dump you?” Eric was sure Ali hurt almost as much as him. His two best friends have been next to him during all these long years and they knew his feelings so well, that at moments it really seemed that they could share the same emotions.
    “No, she locked herself in the bathroom. It’s been three hours, maybe longer. I don’t know what to do…”
    “That’s bad,” Ali said. “Eric, listen, you should make her talk or at least listen to you.”
     
    “Yeah, if she keeps silent, it’s not going to end up well. She will leave you sooner or later. Whatever you tell her can’t be worse than what she will imagine if you don’t tell her the truth.”
    Eric was not sure what a woman could imagine that would be worse than his bitter reality, but he had learned to trust Alison’s and Margo’s advice. If two women – so different from one another – said the same thing, it had to be universal truth. He probably would have to pray for a miracle for Darya to listen to him. Part of him was also sure that she could hide in the bathroom for so long, but a woman like Darya would get bored sooner or later. And hopefully sooner than later.
    “I’ll try.”
    “We love you Eric!”
    “Go make it right with your woman! We’ll call later to check on you. Kisses,” Margo made her last words sounds like commands. And command it was – to go and make things right and hope for her understanding.
    The knock at the bathroom door seemed too loud. Maybe it was his oversensitive body reacting badly to stress, which was a usual thing with his problems. He was not sure if things went south how would his system react to it, but he was not going to think about the dark days just yet – there still was a chance to make it right. He knocked again and then he realized that the sound was not louder than it should be, it was the water which had stopped running in the shower. Maybe she’d finally come out. But that proved to be a vain hope. All he got was silence and the slim hope that Darya would be listening to what he had to say.
    As he tried to talk, the shower started again. His woman was a big naughty child at times, but right now he couldn’t blame her. What a couple we are! So, Eric, a big child himself set down to think of ways to make a rebel teenage spirit listen.
    There was only one bright idea that popped in his mind. Eric fetched his phone and played one of his most favorite songs by DaYa.
    I have kissed the skies
    Looking into your eyes
    I’ve betrayed the sun
    That is deemed by your shine
    May the darkness reign
    May there be no sun
    I can’t care less… Just be mine
    Beeee mineee
     
    “This was the first song by you that I have heard years ago.” He started talking to her in soft low voice and from the sudden silence in the bathroom he could guess that Darya was listening to him. That encouraged Eric to continue. “I fell in love with it. Not just the music or the lyrics they were perfect, but what really touched me deep inside my heart the voice that sang those words. Then I made that voice and later also the owner of that voice part of my life.”
    He chuckled nervously remembering his teenage years. He was a shy boy and didn’t have many friends.
    Girls liked his looks, but as he was often bullied by tougher guys, they preferred to stay away from him. DaYa from his imaginations soon had become his best friend. He imagined there would be a day when they would meet.
    “I started listening to your songs like an addict. I would often imagine being at your concert and then you would notice me from the stage and we would meet afterwards…” his voice trembled. Even now, years later he could feel wrapping himself into those warm