Played like a Guitar - Chapter 22: Chapter 22

The light drizzle and fresh air only added to the exhilaration I experienced when leaving the club unescorted. I felt like running a marathon, climbing the tallest mountain, jumping off an airplane, anything to waste this ginormous burst of energy surging through my veins. I managed to overcome something that stroke me as impossible only a month ago and it felt liberating.
Biding my time while Elektra was helping Leo pay for the drinks, I took the opportunity to dance alone in the gentle rain to the muffled songs resonating from the rooftop, hopping from one puddle onto the other. Oh golly, I'm so excited to find a job, excel at it, ravish myself in new garments, find an exciting partner and live the dream life. I knew deep down these optimistic thoughts wouldn't last long but Great Scott were they irie for a change. As soon they pulled out of the nightclub, I took Elektra by the hand, spinning her round and round in graceful circles.
"Someone's in a good mood today." - she noticed, grabbing my hips and swaying left and right. I had a bit of practice since the last time we went clubbing.
"Did you fall in love on the dance floor again?" - Leonardo messed around, but there was some truth to it. Who knew overcoming the end of this bizarre 'relationship' felt nearly as good as diving into it? If I had known my significant others would be whirling and twirling in nightclubs, I would've transformed into the old Elektra in the blink of an eye.
"No, tonight was all about me." - I smiled confidently, letting the raindrops fall on my face.
"Well, once you two are done making fools of yourselves, shall we head back home?" - he suggested while yawning into his hand.
"Actually, there's something I need to do before we call it a night." - I informed them, remembering a quest I promised myself to complete a month ago.
"Slightly scared of that. I'm in!" - she accepted, taking advantage of my excess energy while it lasts.
"There's no need to stress out, it will be fun. Come on, this way!" - I started jogging in excitement.
The walk uphills was regarded by my friends as a challenge after hours of dancing but not for me. It had to be done in order to officially seal our past once and for all. It was an old neighborhood with little colorful houses located miles above the shore, with narrow streets made of cobblestone and that nostalgic vintage feeling to it. The older residents were peacefully sleeping in their cozy cottages, protected by the feline inhabitants monitoring us from the roofs with their green glowing eyes. Among them was a partially-destroyed house with broken windows, graffiti-covered walls and a wrecked entrance, abandoned a long time ago. I turned on my phone's flashlight, checking through the massive hole on the left side for any intruders apart from the occasional cockroach or rat.
"If I had known you'd bring us to a haunted house, I would've taken the first flight back to Italy. Are you out of your goddamn mind?" - Leo complained, stepping away from the door.
"My old gang used to crash in one of these when their parents kicked them out of the house." - Elektra confessed, holding on to her umbrella, not wide enough to cover both of them.
"See, nothing to worry about! It's like a little rent-free flat for students...with a bit of dust and mold. You can stay here if you're scared, I need to grab something real quick." - I stepped on foot inside, the sudden determination outweighing my fear of being stabbed in the dark by a lurking stranger.
"I regret introducing myself to you on our first day." - the blonde scaredy-cat cursed under his breath.
"Love you too, Leonardo!"
It was a long dark corridor with rooms spread out on both sides, bedrooms on the right and the common areas on the left. The electricity was obviously cut off, the furniture and cabinets were trashed beyond repair but there were few traces left of human habitancy. The numerous kitchen cabinets and drawers were pulled out by force, broken glass shards and floor tiles were scattered in the smelly bathroom and only filthy mattresses remained in the bedrooms. 'Who lived here and what happened to them?', the neighbors certainly pondered. The answer lied somewhere among the numerous rumors going around town. There is always some truth to myths and legends.
Oddly enough, it lied in the palm of my hand. Decades ago, this place used to be my grandfather's childhood home before his family moved to the countryside. They never planned on selling it, as most of our family tree resided in it for generations and thus had tremendous emotional value. As the years passed, the place became a shelter for the homeless, no one to prevent them from trespassing. Dad never liked it, he claimed that renovating the place would've been pricier than buying a new apartment in the city center so he neglected it for years. Then he met my mother who fell in love with the house (and him at the time), so he promised her that one day he would gather enough money to rebuild it from scratch and make it a place they could call home. Ha, so much for that.
Ever since the divorce, he gave up on that idea, denouncing it as a huge waste of money whereas in reality, he clearly didn't want to live in it without her. Who knows, maybe if she stayed here this could've been my bedroom. I was already imagining the decorations, wall colors and toys spread across a fluffy carpet. Releasing a heavy sigh, I still wanted to blame mother for ruining my childhood even though it wasn't necessarily her fault. They both messed up pretty bad.
It's strange to think how rich this place was historically, yet ended up in ruins. Ancestors I was unaware of lived within these very walls, their names and stories long forgotten. I bet dad will be delighted to tell me everything he knows, they're the reason why I'm standing here now ultimately. I never blamed him for following his own path, but I couldn't help but feel guilty, as if we let the previous generations down collectively. If all goes well, they won't be too harsh on us in the afterlife.
Proceeding to the final room at the end of the hallway, which seemed to be used for storage and supplies, I pushed a few broken cupboards to the side, behind which laid a distinctly-shaped black suitcase. Thankfully I covered it with a transparent foil, as it was full of dust. Placing it carefully around my back, I gave the house one final glimpse before returning to my dear friends while avoiding rusty nails and wooden planks infested with mold.
"Alright, let's go. We're not done yet." The drizzle stopped in the meantime.
"What's that on your back? Is that a...violin?" - Leo identified the recognizable shape quickly.
"No, but you're close. I'll show you in a bit." The mailbox detached itself throughout the years, barely hanging from the wooden post. I brushed off the dirt from its side, revealing a Greek surname: Galanis. Noah Galanis, huh? Has a ring to it.
"This night keeps getting weirder and weirder. Did they put something in your drink again?" - Elektra referenced the past.
Looking from their perspective, I did kind of enter a completely random abandoned house in the middle of the night to steal a mysterious case from within. I guess they deserved an explanation, they've been loyal so far. Plus I don't want to come off as an underground drug lord! By the time we reached the desired location, they were presented with a short summary of my little Greek family heritage. Elektra felt guilty that her friends basically wrecked the place and turned it into a shelter of their own but there was no need for apologies, she couldn't have possibly guessed it on her own.
"Noah, this better be worth it or else...woah." - he stopped mid-sentence, petrified by the striking panoramic view of the city. Elektra and I have already been here several times so she knew well not to spoil the surprise for him.
"I knew you were taking us here, but why?" - she asked puzzled.
"This is the place we almost had our first kiss." - I responded with an amused smirk, reflecting on how ridiculous and overdramatic the whole scene was. So naïve back then too, but anyone would have reacted the way I did when shown a damn proposal ring. The things I went through, Jesus Christ.
"And this..." - I unlocked the case, revealing his guitar which could be easily distinguished by the beautiful hand painted rose on it's wooden body with our initials carved in at the bottom, still intact from the last time his fingers pulled its strings. "...is the guitar he used during their concerts."
"You learned how to play that thing?" - Leo queried enthusiastically.
"I didn't come all the way up here to give you two a private concert. Back in Rome, this instrument was a constant reminder of him that I didn't have the courage to throw away, it was the only thing I had left from him. In my mind, losing it would mean losing him, and I couldn't accept that, even after all he did to me." - I sat on my favorite bench in the world, crossing my legs and positioning it just the way he taught me on the balcony, pulling one of it's worn out strings with my right hand and placing my left fingers on the frets to form an E chord. My thumb traced the initials, still wondering why he carved them in the first place. At this point, it didn't matter.
"But now that chapter of my life is closed..." - I stood up facing the tree, letting go of the guitar's body, gripping onto the neck with both hands. All the raw emotions from the past weeks started piling up, ready to erupt and explode any second like a vicious volcano.
"Step aside, you two." - I gave it a little whirl before swinging it with full force, smashing it in half against the sturdy trunk. The sharp noise of the wood breaking startled the two, but I kept smashing it to smithereens until nothing but the handle remained, the sudden rage taking control over my body. God, that felt amazing! No wonder Jimi Hendrix kept demolishing his guitars on stage!
"That was...rather alarming. Feel better now?" - he asked, slightly concerned over my mental stability. I laid down on the grass, the fatigue finally catching on to me. That's it. He's gone.
Elektra walked over the shattered parts and found something intriguing that caught her attention. She crouched and picked it up, finding a tiny note folded several times glued to one of the pieces. Was it in the guitar all this time? My heartbeat intensified drastically despite the anger management exercise I just had. She handed it over, fully aware that the words written on it were dedicated solely to me. Trying not to rip it apart, I removed it delicately from the inner part. A moment of hesitation followed. You're over him, you can do this. I unfolded the piece of paper, the same material as the one from his notebook, only this time written in ink.
Dearest Noah,
I'm writing this note while carefully observing the tiny details engraved on that beautiful face of yours, now that you are sleeping so tranquilly besides me. Unable to rest from insomnia, I gave Malory a call in the middle of the night, describing her what was surely the greatest day of my life. She was thrilled and beyond happy to hear her older brother laughing for the first time in months, wondering who could have possibly made that happen. Consider this as an invitation (and strict order) to pay us a well-deserved visit in Galway. The time has come for us to reverse roles, which is why I offer to be your very own tourist guide the second you step foot on our land. My dear sister yearns to make your acquaintance.
Although no present could compensate for the timeless memories you carved into my brain on this day, remember this guitar as a token of gratitude. My grandfather assembled it for me shortly before he passed away, painting this symbolic rose as a reminder to use it only to spread love and joy to the world. Unfortunately, remains of his hard work must be scattered like ashes as you're reading this note. I hope it went out with a bang, it was closest to my heart. But worry not, I did this to myself. As for the wedding, I do not expect you to attend it, you've endured plenty of torment already.
Under no circumstance should you regard this as a farewell letter. Although I am having troubles wrapping my head around it, our paths seem to be connected through destiny, and I believe we shall meet again in the future, one way or the other. And remember, don't let chains of the past hold you back. Become who you're meant to be!
Eternally yours, no matter what you choose,
J.
A minute of silence for my tired soul.
WHY CAN'T HE JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!?
I knew it was too easy to be true.
"What does it say?" - Elektra asked, stepping closer to decipher some of the words. I allowed them to read the note, too drained to go through it again, countless thoughts racing through my mind.
"What now?" - Leo pondered, unsure how I would respond. The solution was quite simple actually, no other option seemed possible.
"You heard the man, his younger sister wants to meet me and I'm not one to disappoint." - I sighed heavily, not surprised at the turn of events.
"Does this mean I'm booking us three tickets for Ireland tonight?" - she opened her mouth in excitement.
"You most definitely are." - I confirmed. The pitch of her feverish scream shattered every window within a mile radius, blowing up our poor eardrums. Judging by the continuous jumps and hugs, you'd think I'd given her keys to a Beverly Hills mansion, not an invitation to a celebrity wedding she won't even attend. Hold on a minute, does she think...? Oh...In your wildest dreams, Elektra.
Twisting and turning in bed, switching positions, changing sheets but nothing could overrule the questions that kept me awake. The note almost tore apart from the continuous folding and unfolding it endured. He knew I would destroy the guitar, so why glue it on the inside? How could he possibly predict something like that? I wouldn't be traveling all the way to Ireland to meet Malory if Elektra didn't find it. It was a long shot, so why risk it? "He knows you all too well..." Great, my inner voice is back. And no, I'm not in love with him again, I'm only doing this because Malory wishes to meet me! How the hell am I going to convince dad to buy me tickets? I clicked on the Google search bar, typing in how much money I could make by selling one of my kidneys. Hm, should be enough to cover a round trip and a brand new guitar. Sorry about that, grandpa O'Dea! It was entirely your grandson's fault.
The following morning, Elektra sent me a screenshot of the ticket prices for Ireland, along with a text message informing me that the only flights available were from the 6th until the 9th of July. We did book them a week earlier so we weren't in a position to complain. However, this meant that the wedding would take place during our stay there, and knowing myself, I won't have the guts to miss such an important day for him. Despite the recent lack of passion, a special place will always be secured for him within my heart.
In an attempt to fill up my empty wallet, I called my mother as a last resort. She was surprised to see my name displayed on the screen, as she was usually the one initiating the conversations. We caught up on the usual topics: the weather, her workaholic schedule, the fact that I wasn't looking for a job after finishing my Master's degree, how I will fail in life if I continue being this lazy and how it was all dad's fault for letting me act like that. But then I decided to twist things in my favor.
"How's your father doing?" - she directed the conversation towards him.
"Oh, you know him, spending most of his time at work. We catch up every once in a while during dinner time."
"I see. Business doing well?" - I could tell by her calm voice that she was trying to play it cool.
"Quite well actually. He's been really happy with work lately so he's treated me with some new clothes, I'll send you pictures later. Almost like I chose them myself." A short pause followed.
"Ah, how nice of him. Do you need anything else for your wardrobe? I hope you realize you can't wear those ripped jeans and old T-shirts you like so much once you start working at the office. Want me to send you some money too so you can renew your closet a bit?" - she offered 'selflessly'.
"No, mom, it's fine, dad's got me covered. By the way, I've been meaning to tell you this for a while now. Elektra and Leo have organized a trip to Galway in a week, but I need to ask dad to buy me tickets first. I know it's a bit last-minute but I might come and visit you on my way back just so you know, if it's fine with you."
"Of course it's fine sweetheart. Ireland is a wonderful place, I'm sure you'll love it. Also don't bother nagging your father, just check the ticket prices and let me know how much money you need. He's been taking care of you this month financially so it's the least I can do. Tell him I said that."
"Okay, will do! Thanks mum, love ya." Mission accomplished. The only miserable advantage of having divorced parents was watching them secretly compete against each other for the 'cooler parent' trophy. I swiped up through my contact list, dialing my dearest father.
"Hey dad! Just got off the phone with mum, it looks like she booked me tickets for Manchester next week. I'll start packing my stuff today, I don't know when I'll be coming back, though." Although he was never the type to show his emotions, I could tell he wasn't expecting me to be leaving so soon. As much as I preferred living in his summerhouse, mom hasn't seen me in ages and behind that satanic voice of hers, she missed having someone to lash her stress onto after work. It was remorseful of me to be lying to them like this, but the truth was not an option as neither would've accepted me in their houses if they knew what was going on behind the scenes.
My last week in Thess flew by like the wind. We showed Leo the rest of the tourist attractions and important historical monuments, Athena somehow managed to pack her gigantic closet in one suitcase for a three day trip whereas my stomach was in knots the entire time, ridiculously nervous to travel all the way there so suddenly. By now I've learned not to underestimate all the possible scandals and outrageous incidents that may occur in Jamie's presence. If I managed to hook up with him in less than a day, may the Lord watch over me and show mercy during the following three. Amen.