Page 13 of Claimed

The crowd whistled. Violet emerged wearing a fluffy pink skirt and a cropped black T-shirt, the same one from the photo. Her braid pulled her hair away from her pretty face. A slash of bright magenta filled her lips. Her eyes swept the audience as she picked up the acoustic guitar. She strummed a simple melody, and the room hushed. Even I held my breath.

When we were young, we played games in the leaves,

Dreams in our pockets, hearts on our sleeves.

I stayed in the shadows of our sleepy town,

You chased city lights, in their glow you drowned.

It’s hard, so hard, to see what we’ve become,

It’s hard, so hard, when all’s said and done,

You’re lost in the high-rise, I’m lost in the fields,

In the space between us, our fate was sealed.

Damn, she could sing. I found myself leaning in, caught up in the web of her sweet voice.

I heard the whispers of your nights gone astray,

In the gritty streets, you lost your way,

I tended our memories in the quiet land,

Hoping one day, you’d understand.

Who’s she mourning in her tune? Some lost love, or a ghost from her past? I savored every note like it was honey.

It’s hard, so hard, to bridge this growing divide,

It’s hard, so hard, feeling worlds collide.

You’re in the fast lane, I’m in the slow,

In the choices we made, our different paths show.

In my dreams, we skip under the sun,

Hand in hand, together, how we used to run,

But dawn brings reality, stark and clear,

In your new life, there’s no room for me, dear.

The city may have you in its glittering snare,

But remember, sister, I’ll always care,

No matter how far, or how different our lives,

You’re my sister, in you, my love survives.

It’s hard, so hard, watching you fade away,

It’s hard, so hard, finding words to say,

You’re in your world, and I’m in mine,