A Sonata for the Scarred

"Are you alright, miss?"

The voice pulled both Eddie and Glenna to the doorway. Their conversation cut off.

"Rhea?"

Eddie.

But she didn't even look his way.

Still gripping the nurse's sleeve, she whispered, "Please... can you help me bandage this?"

The second she said it, her legs gave out.

When she came to, her head was already wrapped, the bleeding stopped.

A nurse called out, "Mr. Bowie, Miss Smith is awake."

Rhea stayed still, lying there as Eddie rushed to her bedside.

Eddie's face twisted into something complicated before he launched into his neatly packaged text.

[Rhea, I overreacted tonight. Glenna's been my friend for years. I just panicked when I saw her hurt—it wasn't on purpose, leaving you like that. But you're being petty. How could Glenna have known what you've been through? She's an heiress. And what if her hand had been seriously hurt? She might never be able to play piano again. You understand that, right? Playing is her dream. Just go over and apologize to her, and this whole thing can be over.]

Rhea stared at the screen and let out a dry laugh.

"No."

Her voice was low, steady. Eddie stiffened.

She'd always leaned on him. Rarely pushed back.

But now, over an apology, she shut down.

"You want me to say sorry? To her?" She shook her head. "Not happening. Glenna's dream matters, but mine doesn't?"

She raised her hand.

A faint scar stretched across her pale skin.

Two years ago, when Eddie got jumped by a hitman sent by some Bowie bastard kid, Rhea had taken the knife for him.

Straight through her hand.

A random bystander had called the cops—only reason they got out.

But her hand never healed right.

Sometimes it shook for no reason. That tiny tremble? It killed whatever dream she had left.

Still, she gave up her hand to save him.

No regrets.

Eddie had promised after that—never again.

But promises? They're just words.

With Glenna, his panic was instant. He saw her hand and thought, 'What about her music? Her future?'

With Rhea? Her future didn't even cross his mind.

She looked him dead in the eyes, smiling.

"Eddie, I just remembered something. Three years ago, that big competition—it was between me and Glenna. Then right before it, boom. Car crash. I lost my hearing. She won. You really think that was just a coincidence?"

Eddie stiffened. Panic flashed behind his eyes.

"It was just a coincidence. Why would you even say that?"

He was so shaken, he forgot she wasn't supposed to hear.

He stood, trying to brush it all off.

"You're tired, Rhea. Get some rest. I'm... disappointed in you."

She didn't answer.

Didn't have to.

She didn't care anymore.

Her phone buzzed.

New ID: approved.

Three days.

She'd be gone.