The Sound of Forever

Chapter 59

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Keane

The smell of garlic and rosemary hits me the moment I walk into Julianna’s house. Rayne’s giggles float from the kitchen, and I follow the sound. It’s been a long day at the studio, but a good one.

When I step into the kitchen, Julianna is at the stove, stirring something in a large pot. Rayne is standing on a stool at the counter, carefully tearing basil leaves and dropping them into a bowl. The sight of them together, so natural, so comfortable, makes my heart ache in the best way.

“Good evening,” I greet them.

“Hey, you,” Julianna says, glancing over her shoulder with a smile. “How was your day? Were you able to record anything?”

“It was a lot better than I expected,” I say, crossing the room to kiss her cheek. “The music just flowed, like it was there all along, I just had to . . . play.”

Rayne looks up from her bowl. “Did you play your guitar?”

“I did,” I say, crouching down so we’re at eye level. “And I even recorded something. Want to hear it later?”

She nods enthusiastically, her pigtails bouncing. “Yes. Is it a happy song or a sad song?”

“A little bit of both,” I say, tapping her nose. “Kind of like life, huh?”

I stand, the thrill of what I’ve just done thrumming through me, and turn to Julianna. “I finally played it—that melody that’s been stuck in my head for weeks,” I tell her, the excitement rushing out before I can stop it. “Zeke said it sounded amazing. And recording it? God, Jules, it felt like I was piecing myself back together, one strum and one note at a time.”

Her eyes soften, and she steps closer, her hand warm as it squeezes mine. “I’m so proud of you,” she says, her voice quiet but overflowing with meaning. “The way you’ve thrown yourself into this, pushed through everything.”

“It’s because of you two,” I say, glancing at Rayne before turning back to her. “You’ve given me everything I needed to fight for.”

She doesn’t speak right away, but her lips form the words I love you, and it’s enough to knock the air out of my lungs. Without thinking, I sweep her into my arms and twirl her, laughter spilling from both of us.

“Love you too,” I say, setting her gently back down before pressing a kiss to her lips.

“Eww. Stop kissing Julie,” Rayne groans, her little face scrunching in mock disgust.

“Yeah, mister,” Julianna adds, grinning as she pulls away. “Stop kissing me and start chopping carrots.”

“On it,” I reply, grabbing a knife and stepping to the counter, the warmth of the moment still wrapped tightly around us.

Rayne chatters away as we cook, her little voice filling the room with stories about her day and questions about the studio. By the time we sit down to eat, the house feels alive. Filled with the energy that has been feeding my soul for the past couple of months.

After dinner, I clean up the kitchen while Julianna gets Rayne ready for bed. It’s a routine we’ve fallen into naturally, like we’ve been doing this forever. Once the dishes are done, I kiss both of them goodnight and head back to my place, promising Jules that I’d be back later. The walk through the cool night air giving me a chance to process the day.

When I get home, my phone buzzes in my pocket. It’s Rowan.

“Hey,” I say, leaning back. “What’s up?”

“Not much,” Rowan says. “Just wanted to check in. How’d the studio go?”

“Really good,” I say, the pride evident in my tone. “I recorded something. It sounded different, but something that felt really mine.”

“That’s fucking incredible, Keane. I’m proud of you.”

The words hit me harder than I expected. Back in the day he didn’t give two shits about my music. He might have cared a little during the time he was dating Constantine. Then, well, there was the accident and . . . I really never saw us being this close, not the way we are right now. I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Thanks, Rowe. That means a lot.”

We talk for a while longer, about his charity and about life in general. The guy he was dating is no longer in the picture. I tell him about Ray and he promises to come visit us the next week. It’s impressive how much he’s changed, how he’s now my friend too.

“Take care of yourself, alright?” he says as we say goodbye.

“You too, Rowe,” I say. “Love you.”

“Love you too, little brother, stay out of trouble,” he replies, and the line goes quiet.

I sit there for a moment, letting the call settle. Then I grab my guitar and a notebook, the melody from earlier already playing in my head. The words come slowly at first. But as I play, they start to flow, each one carrying a piece of the grief and love I’ve been holding onto for so long.

This is everything I’ve felt for that little girl that will never be, but that will always live in my heart.

You were the first song I ever heard,

A heartbeat beneath my own,

Fragile and fierce, a sound so pure,

A melody I’ll never outgrow.

Though the world stole you away too soon,

Your music lives on in me,

A quiet hum in the darkest nights,

A lullaby in the breeze.

You’re the sound of forever,

A sound that’ll never fade,

The light that guides me through the darkness,

The hope that never sways.

The tears come before I realize it, falling onto the page as the lyrics take shape. I don’t stop them. For once, I let myself feel it all—the loss, the love, the pain, the beauty. It’s all there, flowing through the notes, stitched permanently into the words.

When I finally set the guitar down, the room seems to hum with a quiet sense of release. Like something I’ve been holding onto for years has finally let go. I glance at the notebook, the lyrics staring back at me, and I know this is just the start. There’s still so much to say, so much to express. But for now, this feels right.

This feels like a beginning.

This feels like finding my voice again.

This feels like stepping into something new.

This feels like the sound of everything I’ve been waiting to say—maybe waiting to be.

This feels like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.