Always Isn't Forever by J. C. Cervantes

Author:J. C. Cervantes [Cervantes, J. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2023-06-06T00:00:00+00:00

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• • •

The house is quiet when I come in. The setting sun casts an eerie pinkish light through the living room windows. I go looking for Lourdes, but I don’t have to look far, because I hear a song. Being played on a piano.

I follow the soft, dreamy, unfamiliar tune down a wide hall that ends with a set of tall double doors. Slowly, I open them.

The room is all windows and light. There’s a white sofa, a huge painting of black squares like a chess board, and there’s Lourdes, sitting at my piano positioned right by the window with a view of the shimmering Pacific. In the corner, behind her, is my new guitar.

If it’s possible to be happy living in another body, then I think I’m feeling it. Just seeing my piano does something to me. There’s a fluttering in my chest, a tingling in my hands.

Lourdes must not hear me come in because she continues to float her fingers over the keys. She’s good. Really good.

A few seconds later, with her gaze down, she stops and I think I see a small smile curling around the edges of her mouth. At least until I ruin it by saying, “You play?”

If I startled her, she covers it like a pro. She stands and comes over. “Whitney cleared out this room for you. The delivery guys just left an hour ago.”

I go to my piano, run my hands over the smooth honey-colored wood, mesmerized. “What was that song you were playing?” I ask.

“It doesn’t matter.” She stands and props her hands on her hips like someone’s mom. “How did things go with Ruby? I tried to set it all up for you. Told her how awesome you are.” She shakes her head. “She’s a hard sell, and it’s going to take more than my word.”

I feel like saying Told you so, but I manage to refrain and just stick to the facts.

“It started out really good.” I sit at the piano and begin to play the first few notes of her song, the one I never finished because I thought I had all this time.

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