Miyu was sitting on her bed with her back leaning against her bedroom wall. On her tiny lap rested a big brown guitar. Her small, frail hands strummed the guitar a few times before she would let go to write a few scribbles on a piece of paper.

She was passionate about writing musical lyrics, as evident by the hundreds of scribbled pieces of paper in her room. Writing songs, whether they ended up good or bad, was a good way for her to let go of her bottled up emotions. Either way, it was something she had learned from her mother, and therefore, something she would hold close to her heart forever.

The only problem she had was being inside that room. Miyu could no longer find anything to inspire her. The same old four walls caging her in. The same table, bed, and curtains. Frustrated, Miyu crumpled up the piece of the paper she had been writing on and threw it over her shoulder.

She collapsed onto her pillow.

Ugh.

I wish…

Hmm. I don’t even know what to wish for.

Miyu dragged herself out of bed and with her chin dipped to her chest, she made her way to the bathroom.

Maybe a hot shower will do the trick.

She undressed, and for a moment, she stood still in front of the mirror. She was pale, skinny, and frail. Her white hair ran loose down her back and over her shoulder, making her icy-blue eyes stand out even more than usual.

I look like a ghost!

She shied away from the mirror and stepped into the shower. She loved having showers. Somehow, she felt at peace when the hot water was running over her body, washing away her troubled thoughts and clearing her mind.

When she was done, she headed downstairs to ask her father what he would like for dinner.

He was sitting in his usual brown leather recliner watching television.

“Papa.”

“Hmm?”

“What do you feel like eating tonight?”

“Just make something for yourself,” he grumbled. “Did you finish the homework I gave you for today?”

“Yes, Papa, I already finished that this m—”

“Good girl. Now go eat, get cleaned, and get into bed.”

“But Papa, it’s only—”

“Miyu!”

“Yes, Sir.”

Miyu turned around and swiftly made her way to the kitchen to heat up some leftover rice and vegetables from the previous night.

He’s getting grumpier by the day.

Sigh.

Her father used to be an upstanding man and a loving, caring husband and father. But when Miyu’s mother passed away, his heart broke, and he hasn’t been able to put the pieces back together.

She loved her father more than anything else in the world, but he has become a strict and grumpy old man. Living off of government funds made it easy for him to sit around all day watching TV with a bottle of whiskey or two always nearby.

Miyu hated the alcohol and what it did to her father. She knew he would never hurt her but his heartache, coupled with the alcohol, made him beyond irrational. He couldn’t bear losing Miyu as well, so he took her out of school to be homeschooled. He also forbade her to ever leave the house without his permission.

She knew he only wanted to protect her and she loved him for that, but sadness and resentment had been taking a toll on her heart.

After her meal, Miyu cleaned up, gave her father a kiss on the cheek, and made her way back upstairs. It was still afternoon, but she knew that she would probably spend the rest of the evening in her room, as she knew her father was quite fond of being alone at night.

With her belly filled and the smell of lavender conditioner still emanating from her hair, Miyu was feeling better. She grabbed her guitar, wrapped the sling around her neck and with her frail little hands, she started strumming the chords to one of her favorite songs.

She closed her eyes as her fingers knew their way. She has played this song a thousand times or more. The melody was soothing for her soul, and the sound Miyu was able to get out of the guitar was that of hope.

Without thinking, the words flowed from her mouth.

“What is this feeling

Of breathlessness

Whenever you’re near

What am I feeling?”

“You blind my eyes

You shine so bright

You light up my night...”

“Doesn’t matter if I’m looking up at the stars...”

“Or down at the beach…”

“You’re always,

You’re always

Just out of reach...”

“My sky-princess, my star queen!”

Huh?

“T-take my heart and give us a chance…”

Confused, Miyu dropped her voice a bit. She couldn’t say if she had imagined a boy singing the song along with her.

“Let’s shine together”

Okay, I did not imagine that! Did that come from next door?

Ta-dum. Ta-dum.

He… has such a beautiful voice…

“May I have this dance?”

Miyu was utterly enthralled by the boy’s voice, and in that perfect moment, she was free and didn’t hesitate for a second to join his voice on a magical journey.

“Oh what I would give

To be close to you

To be the one you choose”

“The one you’re scared to lose...”

Ta-dum. Ta-dum.

When Miyu’s fingers strummed the last chord, she gasped as she came to the realization of what had just happened. As fast as she could, she ran out of her room and slammed the door shut behind her.

Oh my god. Oh my god, oh my god! Did I really just do that?

With wobbly legs and glowing hot cheeks, she made her way to the bathroom, which was down the hall.

Who was that? Does he live next door? I can’t BELIEVE I just did that!

Maybe he didn’t even hear me?

She brushed her teeth vigorously.

I’m sure I just imagined everything. Of course, he didn’t hear me.

She brushed her hair intensely.

Ahahahah!

That happened all in my head!

Miyu tried making herself feel better, but deep down she knew. She knew he heard her just as she heard him.

She gently creaked open her bedroom door and sneaked inside. Exhausted, she quickly slipped into bed and into her dreams.

That night, she dreamed of a faceless boy. He tried his best to talk to her, but she was too busy brushing her hair and teeth that she couldn’t hear a single word he said.