The sound of screeching brakes, the bone-chilling wail of voices crying out in horror. The vivid, gut-wrenching image of a body being mangled beneath the weight of a truck. And finally, the light dimming from a pair of lifeless eyes.
That was the image burned into Liam's mind, the vision he had carefully constructed in the final moments before what he believed would be the end. The release, the solution to the chaos that had become his life.
Liam (to himself): It's all my fault. It'll be better if I just disappeared from everyone's lives and not be a burden to anyone. This is fine… this is…
But just as he braced himself for the impact, for the pain to consume him one final time, everything was disrupted in an instant.
A hand, strong, firm, and unwavering grabbed him by the shoulder and yanked him backward with such incredible speed that both he and the mysterious savior were thrown to the ground, landing harshly on their backsides.
Liam's breath hitched in confusion as he twisted around, and his eyes met a face he vaguely recognized from earlier that day, a face he never expected to see here, at this moment.
John: What the hell do you think you're doing?!
The two of them sat there for a beat, panting and dazed.
Liam's expression twisted in annoyance and disbelief, his eyes narrowing at the boy who had so rudely interrupted what he thought would be his final act. Meanwhile, John was the complete opposite, his face a mixture of fury, disbelief, and deep concern.
John didn't give Liam a chance to escape again. As Liam scrambled to get to his feet, John lunged forward and tackled him, pinning him to the ground. He locked his arms tightly around Liam's limbs, preventing him from making any sudden moves.
Liam: HEY!! Let go of me!!!
John: So you can do something stupid again?! NO WAY!!
Liam: Why are you interfering?! This has nothing to do with you!!
John: Even so… I can't let you go ahead with this! Whatever it is you're going through, I don't think it'll get better by ending it this way...
The words hit Liam like daggers, but not in the way John might've intended. His face flushed with rage and embarrassment as he noticed passersby stopping to stare. Whispers, confused expressions, and judgmental glances were starting to form a circle around them.
Liam: Stop talking like you know anything!!!
John maintained his grip, unyielding. But Liam was growing more desperate by the second. If he couldn't use his arms or legs, then he'd use the only thing John hadn't pinned.
In a swift, impulsive motion, Liam jerked his head back, slamming the back of his skull directly into John's face.
A sickening crack echoed through the air. John let out a groan of agony as he immediately released Liam, hands flying to his now bleeding nose.
Blood trickled down his lips. His vision blurred from the sudden pain.
Liam didn't look back. He jumped to his feet, grabbed his backpack, and bolted down the street.
John (shouting): Wait!!
But Liam didn't stop.
His legs moved on their own, faster than they ever had before. He tore through the city streets, the cold wind biting at his face, trying to drown out the sound of John's footsteps still chasing him, injured, but relentless.
Why? Why wouldn't he stop chasing him?
The thoughts started to whirl inside Liam's head again. The ones he had tried to silence with the sound of tires and impact.
The image of the hospital report… The memory of his fingers dancing over piano keys… Moonlight Sonata playing gently in his mind, melancholic and eternal… The crowd staring, judging, whispering… His recent Internet searches, all pointing to the same place… And her, the girl with blonde hair, with that soft voice and warm smile.
"Liam… that was just the first part. I'll give you the second part when you participate in the winter event… okay?"
Her words echoed like a ghost through his heart, and before he could stop it, tears began to flow freely from his eyes.
Liam (to himself): Why…?! Why did it have to end like this?! WHY?!
His lungs burned & his vision was clouded. But he didn't slow down. The street ahead blurred until suddenly, he reached a bridge.
It stretched over a dark, fast-moving river, the water beneath churning and foaming with hidden depth.
And then, an idea… a horrible, dangerous idea.
John, still stumbling after him, finally caught sight of Liam once more, just in time to see him climb the railing.
John's heart dropped into his stomach.
John: DON'T!!!
But it was too late.
Liam looked back one last time, eyes brimming with tears, filled with sorrow and pain.
Then he jumped.
His body soared through the air for a second that felt like eternity.
And then he vanished into the river below, swallowed whole by the cold, unforgiving water.
*******
Liam felt himself sink deeper into the ocean, his limbs heavy and unresponsive, but he didn't resist. He simply let it happen. The cold embraced him like an old friend, and soon, the water filled his lungs, first through his nose, then his mouth. Panic only crept in once breathing became impossible. Instinctively, he began to flail and fight, but the water was merciless. It dragged him deeper and deeper into the abyss. And then—
A thought broke through the haze.
Liam: No… NO!! I don't want to die. Not like this… not like… What was I thinking?
With newfound urgency, Liam tried to swim back to the surface, but something was holding him down.
His backpack… he had forgotten to take it off. Its weight, soaked and heavy, was dragging him further into the depths like an anchor of regret.
He reached for the straps, fumbling, trying to pull them off. But his vision began to blur & his limbs grew weak. The oxygen in his lungs had long run out, and everything around him started to fade into a murky, dreamlike darkness.
Liam: Damn… I can't breathe… how… did I…
His thoughts fragmented and scattered like shattered glass. And then, just as the light disappeared from his vision, his life began to flash before his eyes...
*****
Liam Lockwood had always loved music. Not just any music, but the timeless masterpieces of Ludwig van Beethoven.
His love for music had started when he was just a little boy.
One day, his parents had taken him to a live performance where someone played one of Beethoven's pieces on a grand piano. That moment was all it took. The power, the beauty, the emotion in the music, it captured Liam's heart completely.
From that day forward, he knew he wanted to play the piano.
When Liam turned ten, his parents enrolled him in music lessons every Saturday. At first, he struggled like anyone else, but he kept practicing. Week after week. Month after month. Eventually, he became the best student in the class.
But he wasn't the only one.
Emma Walker, a girl with the same spark for music, was just as talented. She was always right behind him, and sometimes, even a step ahead. Despite the friendly rivalry, they became inseparable. Best friends bound by music.
Even after they moved on to different schools, their friendship endured. They always made time for piano practice together. Their bond wasn't just about music anymore, it had grown into something deeper, even if neither of them said it out loud.
And then, last December, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity came knocking.
Liam's mother had uploaded a video of him playing Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" in their basement. Somehow, it caught the eye of an event organizer who was planning a prestigious winter event on December 24th. The organizer reached out, offering Liam a chance to perform in front of a large audience.
Liam was ecstatic and Emma was even more excited for him.
From that point on, Liam practiced relentlessly. Day in, day out, Emma was by his side every step of the way, encouraging him, correcting his mistakes, and cheering him on.
Finally, the big day arrived.
Liam stood backstage at the venue, dressed neatly, hands trembling. When he peeked through the curtains and saw the vast crowd gathered before him, a surge of fear paralyzed him. His heartbeat quickened… His breath shortened.
And then, he ran.
He bolted from backstage and didn't stop until he reached the parking lot across the street. There, hidden behind one of the parked cars, he curled up and tried to make sense of the fear that had taken over.
He couldn't understand why he was so afraid.
Then, a familiar voice broke the silence.
Emma: Why did you run off earlier? They're going to call on you soon, you know.
Liam's head shot up in surprise.
Liam: Huh? What are you doing here, Emma?
Emma: I saw you leave. I got worried. Why did you run away like that?
Liam didn't respond immediately. Instead, he buried his face between his knees.
Liam: I… I don't know.
Emma studied him for a moment. She knew Liam too well.
Emma: Are you scared?
That word hit him like a punch.
Liam: Huh?! What are you talking about?! Me? Scared? Of course not! I just needed some fresh air, that's all!
But Emma wasn't buying it. She folded her arms, visibly unimpressed.
Emma: You know, I hate it when you lie to me.
Liam turned to face her and seeing the disappointed expression on her face filled him with guilt.
Liam: Sorry… it's just… I've never performed in front of so many people before. Only you and our class back then. But this… this is different. It's hundreds of people. What if I mess it all up?
Emma's expression softened. She stepped closer to him and then, without saying a word, she leaned in and kissed him, just for a moment. Liam's eyes widened in shock. His cheeks turned red instantly.
Liam: Hey! What was that for?!
Emma laughed at his flustered expression.
Emma: To motivate you.
Liam: Motivate me?
Emma: That was just the first part. I'll give you the second part after you perform at the winter event. Got it?
Liam couldn't stop blushing, but looking into Emma's eyes gave him strength he didn't know he had and suddenly, performing didn't seem so terrifying anymore.
Liam: Alright.
Emma stood and held out her hand.
Emma: Then let's go.
Liam took her hand, and together they began walking back toward the venue. The night air was cold, but their hearts were warm. They smiled at each other as they crossed the street, hand in hand.
But then—
From around the corner, a truck came barreling toward them at full speed. Its brakes weren't working.
Everything happened too fast.
The screeching. The roar of the engine. The blinding headlights.
Then—impact.
A loud crash echoed through the air as the truck veered out of control and smashed into a nearby building.
Liam's vision was hazy. Disoriented, he staggered to his feet, helped by panicked bystanders. Blood trickled from a cut on his forehead, but he was alive.
Then he looked around and Emma was gone.
He looked around and saw that a crowd had gathered a few feet away. A dreadful feeling twisted in Liam's gut.
Liam: No… no… please no…
He pushed through the crowd. And then—he saw her.
Emma lay motionless on the concrete. Blood spilled from her head. Her eyes were closed.
Liam fell to his knees and let out a scream which pierced the night, raw and heart-wrenching. It was a sound born of unbearable grief.