In The Real World

I dragged these tired feet

inside this empty room

and plopped myself on

the corner of this bed.

Breathe in, breathe out,

breathe in, breathe out,

but the trembling didn't stop.

Picked up this guitar

and struck the first note.

Calmness washed over me

as I heard the familiar sound.

Press. Strum. Shift. 

Press. Strum. Shift.

Slowly my eyes closed,

my fingers hitting the right notes;

playing an old tune it knows by feel.

The beat of my heart slowed down 

as the music soothed me.

Press. Strum. Shift. 

Press. Strum. Shift.

The pattern hypnotized me,

a promise of deep sleep

within my reach,

until my fingers took 

a life of its own

and struck the wrong note.

It startled me awake

and I found myself back into the

real world once more.

source

***Just finished reading this haunting yet wonderful book and might need awhile before I can pick up another one. I need to get over this book hangover first. 

"I'm not the one playing the piano here. You're the one that needs to decide what the next note will be."

"But how do I know the next note is the right one?"

"The right note sounds right and the wrong note sounds wrong."

~ Marcelo In The Real World