Chapter 49
Maya
"This piece is for you, Maya." Josh's voice rises above the thunderous applause of the audience. "The world is not full of wonders. You are."
Whistles and shouts of joy can be heard, but they bounce off me. Only his words, repeated in English now, reach me. Tears fill my eyes. I sink into the embrace of the security guard, everything inside me giving way.
The man by my side looks at me in astonishment. With all my weight, I lean onto his arm and close my eyes. He says something, but I can hardly hear it anymore. Because in the background, Josh lets the piano resound. The orchestra follows.
I recognize the melody instantly. It's the melody of our dreams .
Once again, our shared time flashes before my eyes. Every touch and every longing gaze. The joyous laughter and the heartrending moments where I couldn't resist his allure.
I let myself be carried away by the music, reliving it all in my mind, going back to where I first heard it. Just like back then, I want to rest my head on his shoulder. I want to feel his arm around me and be as if nothing can touch us.
I don't want to spend another second without him .
With a single determined motion, I break free once again, pushing my guard away from me. Surprised by my sudden strength, he staggers backward. I glimpse his bewildered face for a fraction of a second, but in the next moment, I turn around. I sprint like never before in my life. In a trance, I storm onto the stage, visible to all. The planks beneath my feet are unstable, and the colorful stage lights radiate an unfamiliar heat.
Josh sits at the piano with his back to me. His hands fly across the keys. There is no trembling, no hesitation.
Just like me.
I approach him with swift strides. The audience takes notice of me, but their screams and shouts mean nothing to me. Nor do the security personnel, who now rush toward me from both sides of the stage.
"Josh!" I call out with all my strength.
Suddenly, he freezes. Only the orchestra continues to play. In slow motion, he turns to face me. At first, it seems he doesn't realize what's happening. But then there's a radiance in his eyes that renders any questions unnecessary.
He smiles at me, rises from the stool, and opens his arms.
Nothing can stop me from running to him. Amid the thunderous applause of the audience, with the melody of our dreams in my ears and all the love for this man in my heart, I sink into his embrace.
There are so many things I could whisper to him now. But the words I would need to express what I feel haven't been invented yet.
So I release myself silently from his arms and look at him. I notice how the crowd is lighting more and more sparklers for us. They shine enchantingly, yet they don't radiate even a fraction of the brilliance that Josh does.
The orchestra gives it their all once more. I can feel the vibrations in the air within my chest. The magic of the moment carries us away. Tenderly, I touch his nose with mine and gaze deeply into his eyes.
There, within the green of his iris, I can see everything. His happiness and desires intertwine with my own feelings, illuminating the world around us.
Step by step, we draw closer to each other.
The audience cheers us on enthusiastically. A sea of lights forms at our feet. The music reaches its final crescendo.
One last look into his eyes, then I lower my eyelids. I can only feel his warm breath on my cheek and the yearning in both our hearts.
And finally, the moment arrives. Our lips touch so gently that I can feel his love coursing through every part of me. And nothing can stop me now. The walls I've carried within me for so long no longer exist.