Page 1 of The Night the Stars Went Dark

Prologue

Present Day

Aspen

“I’ll finish up if you want to go early,” I offered as I wiped down the bar top. It had been a long night, and my coworker, Lisa, had worked a double.

“Really?” She smiled. “You’re the best.” She tossed the rag she was holding into the soapy water behind her and reached for her purse. “I owe you one.” She waved to me as she slipped through the kitchen toward the back door.

I paused for a moment before going over to the front door and locking it. It was late, and patrons usually didn’t try to come in after closing, but I was also there alone and didn’t want to invite trouble in. I glanced around the bar. There wasn’t much left to do. I’d cleaned the glasses and wiped down all the bottles. The chairs were up, and all the neon was turned off. I made one more pass over the bar before tossing my rag and draining the water from the sink. I removed my apron, my tips jingling in the pocket as evidence of a good night, and rolled my head from side to side, stretching my neck in the process. I reached for the light switch and paused as my eyes landed on the keyboard in the corner. We’d had live music tonight. It was a local band, and they were playing tomorrow too. They’d asked if they could leave the keyboard. My boss had shrugged it off, so they pushed it against the wall out of the way and left a few hours ago.

I pressed my lips together in thought. My hands ached when I thought about touching those keys. Something inside me knew though, and the pull to the instrument was undeniable. My feetshuffled across the floor, and before I knew it, I was sitting on the small bench. I stared, unsure of what I was thinking. My fingers flexed as I held my hands above the keys. I hit the power button, turning the keyboard on, and closed my eyes. My hands settled over the keys. It was like muscle memory. My fingers began to dance, slow at first, but it’s like riding a bike. You don’t forget. I got lost for a moment in my head as the music poured out and my mind started to remember. It remembered what music meant to me, and how hard it was when I let it go. My heart squeezed in my chest, the pain I’d been hiding rushing to the forefront, and the tears… the tears came cascading down my cheeks.

I stopped mid-measure. I sucked in a painful breath, and quickly turned off the instrument. I swallowed the sob that was stuck right at the top of my throat. I stood up, and backed away as if it was physically hurting me to sit there. I shouldn’t have done it. I opened the gates that I’d locked tight and was being overtaken by the feelings I’d been burying for the last five years. I quickly grabbed my things and rushed toward the back door. I needed to get away, and fast.

The walk home was quick. I only lived three blocks away. I rushed to the door of my building and took the stairs two at a time. I climbed all the way to the rooftop deck, skipping my place altogether. When I burst onto the roof, my heart felt as if it were in a vise. It ached, and I couldn’t stop the pain as it continued to overtake me. This is why I don’t play. This is why I lock that part away. It makes me remember, and every time I remember… it hurts.

“Why?” I screamed out over the city. Cars were traveling the streets below, honking and rushing about as if nothing was wrong. “Why did you have to leave?” I dropped to the ground, wrapping my arms around my bent knees and rested my head on them. I stayed there until the sun began to rise in the distance. The dark sky was beginning to grow lighter, and my body was finally tired enough to succumb to sleep. I stood, stretching in the process, and made my way down to my apartment. I unlocked the door and stared at the piano across the room. It was covered in dust, a piece of sheet music still propped up on the stand. The bench was now covered in a multitude of things after lack of use. My shoulders dropped in defeat. “I’m sorry. I just can’t,” I murmured to myself as I tossed my things on the counter and made my way to my room. I quickly stripped down to my underwear and climbed onto the bed. I’d feel better after I slept. I shouldn’t have played. I shouldn’t have let the feelings in. I must build the wall stronger, thicker, taller. I can’t keep doing this.

Chapter 1

Aspen- age 6

It was a warm spring day. My mom was waiting when I came outside. Cherrywood Academy wasn’t air conditioned, so I’d rolled my sleeves up.

“Did you have a nice day?” Mom smiled down at me.

“It was ok.” I kicked at the sidewalk, scuffing my Mary Janes at the same time. “It’s hot. Can we get a drink on the way home?” I batted my eyes as I tried to look innocently up at my mother.

“I suppose.” She laughed lightly as she reached for my backpack.

“Can we go to the park?” I added.

“Not today. Your father had plans for another lesson this afternoon.” I wasn’t sure how I felt about this yet. I’d been begging my dad to teach me to play the piano for as long as I could remember. My mom always told me I learned to dance before I could walk. It’s harder than it looks though, and my daddy is really good.

“Let’s get that drink, and then we’ll see about what the afternoon holds.” Mom reached for my hand. We’d reached the crosswalk, and while I knew to stop, she still insisted on holding my hand.

I skipped along, wiping sweat from my forehead every couple of steps until we reached Vern’s corner store. Vern and his wife had run the small corner store since before I was born. They had the best lemonade in Boston, or at least I thought they did. Sometimes, Mr. Vern would give me a piece of candy just for smiling. I didn’t know my grandparents, so he was the closest thing I had to a grandpa.

“Afternoon, Miss Penny.” He smiled as I rushed inside. The cool air was such a drastic change, I shivered.

“Mr. Vern. I’m learning to play the piano,” I boasted. This was my new accomplishment, even if all I was learning were scales.

“That’s wonderful. Did you come here for a sweet treat?” He handed me a piece of caramel. I grinned even wider as I tucked the candy into the pocket of my jumper.

“Mommy says I can have a lemonade since it’s hot out.” Mom appeared behind me and set the bottle on the counter. After paying, she handed it to me.

“Well, you have a nice day.” Vern waved as we turned to leave.

“You save that candy for later,” Mom warned as I sipped from the glass bottle.

“You saw that?” I frowned. I never knew that she knew.

“I see everything.” She gave me a stern look before laughing lightly.

“I’ll save it,” I promised as I enjoyed my cool treat. School would be out soon for summer break, and I knew our trips along this route would lessen.

When we arrived home, I rushed inside, tossing the lemonade bottle in the trash, and racing up the stairs to my room. I quickly stripped out of my uniform and into some play clothes. After my lesson, I was going to try and convince my dad to take me to the park.

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