The hum of Liam’s acoustic guitar filled the small studio. Despite the soundproofed walls, it felt as though the notes pulsed through Aria’s chest, intertwining with her heartbeat. She sat on the couch, her fingers twisting together in her lap, her gaze fixed on him as he tuned the strings with practiced ease.
“Are you sure you want to hear it?” Liam asked, his voice hesitant. He looked at her, his piercing blue eyes softer than she remembered, almost pleading.
Aria nodded, though her stomach was in knots. She wasn’t sure what she wanted, only that she couldn’t look away.
“Okay.” He took a deep breath, his fingers brushing over the strings in a deliberate, tender rhythm. Then, he began to sing.
Liam’s Song: Falling Back to You
***Verse 1:***
***I chased the stars, they burned too bright,***
***Wandered through the endless night.***
***In every crowd, I looked for you,***
***A dream that faded with the view.***
***Pre-Chorus:***
***The world’s a stage, but I’m alone,***
***A kingdom built without a throne.***
***And every note, it feels so wrong,***
***‘Cause you’re the melody to my song.***
***Chorus:***
***I’m falling back to you,***
***Through the echoes of what’s true.***
***No fame, no light, no avenue,***
***Can lead me where my heart once flew.***
***I’m falling back to you.***
***Verse 2:***
***I built a wall of sound so high,***
***Hid my fears behind the sky.***
***But every lyric brings me pain,***
***A love that’s lost, a heart in vain.***
***Pre-Chorus:***
***The world’s a stage, but I’m alone,***
***A kingdom built without a throne.***
***And every note, it feels so wrong,***
***‘Cause you’re the melody to my song.***
***Chorus:***
***I’m falling back to you,***
***Through the echoes of what’s true.***
***No fame, no light, no avenue,***
***Can lead me where my heart once flew.***
***I’m falling back to you.***
***Bridge:***
***No microphone can drown the sound,***
***Of your laughter, so profound.***
***No crowd can fill the space I see,***
***The one you left inside of me.***
***Final Chorus:***
***I’m falling back to you,***
***Through the echoes of what’s true.***
***No fame, no light, no avenue,***
***Can lead me where my heart once flew.***
***I’m falling back to you.***
***Outro:***
***I’m falling, falling… back to you.***
The last note lingered in the air, a delicate thread connecting them. Liam set the guitar down, his hand still resting on its body as he looked at Aria.
Delving Deeper into Aria’s Hesitation
She didn’t know what to say. The song had unraveled her carefully constructed walls, leaving her exposed and vulnerable.
“I…” she started, then stopped, swallowing hard. “It’s beautiful.”
Liam leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “It’s more than a song, Aria. It’s everything I couldn’t say. Everything I wanted to tell you but didn’t know how.”
His words hit her like a wave, and she looked away, focusing on the soft glow of the studio lights. “Liam, it’s been years. You can’t just… write a song and expect everything to go back to the way it was.”
“I don’t expect that,” he said quickly. “But I had to try. You’re the one thing I can’t let go of, no matter how hard I’ve tried.”
Aria’s voice trembled as she replied, “And what happens when you leave again? When your world calls you back, and I’m left standing here, trying to pick up the pieces? I can’t do that again, Liam. I barely survived the first time.”
Her words hung in the air, heavy and raw. Liam ran a hand through his hair, his expression torn. “I know I hurt you. I know I can’t change the past, but I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere. Just… let me prove it to you.”
“Prove it how?” Aria asked, her tone sharp despite the tears welling in her eyes. “By singing songs and showing up when it’s convenient for you? Life isn’t a concert, Liam. I can’t be your encore when everything else falls apart.”
Her words stung, but Liam didn’t flinch. Instead, he moved closer, kneeling in front of her so their eyes were level. “You’re not an encore, Aria. You’re the reason I’m still standing. Every show, every song… it’s all been for you. And I know I don’t deserve a second chance, but I’m asking for one anyway.”
Aria blinked, a tear slipping down her cheek. “Why now? Why after all this time?”
“Because I was a coward,” he admitted, his voice thick with emotion. “I thought chasing my dream would make me whole, but it didn’t. It only made me realize that the only thing I ever truly wanted was you.”
For a moment, they were silent, the weight of his confession hanging between them. Then, Aria stood abruptly, wrapping her arms around herself as if to shield against the storm of emotions.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” she said softly, her back to him. “I don’t know if I can trust you again.”
“You don’t have to decide right now,” Liam said, rising to his feet. “But let me show you that I’m not the same guy I was back then.”
She turned to face him, her eyes searching his. “And what if you are?”
“Then I’ll spend the rest of my life proving I’m not,” he replied simply.
Aria agreed to nothing, but she also didn’t push him away. That night, as she lay in bed, Liam’s song played on repeat in her mind. The lyrics were a mixture of longing and promise, pulling at the threads of her carefully guarded heart.
The next day, Liam surprised her with a gesture that was both grand and painfully intimate. He invited her to a small, private concert—a single song performed in a tiny venue, just for her.
The setting was simple: a dimly lit café with a single stool and a microphone. Aria sat in the front row, her heart pounding as Liam took the stage.
“This one’s for Aria,” he said, his voice echoing softly.
As he began to sing, Aria felt the walls around her heart begin to crumble. Liam’s voice was raw, unpolished, and entirely sincere. It wasn’t just a performance; it was an apology, a plea, and a promise all wrapped into one.
For the first time in years, she allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, they could find their way back to each other.