Page 71 of The Rules We Broke
I’d never even heard of it, but Brady loved horses, and that film was basically made for him. In many ways it was made for us. A boy and girl in love—torn apart by parental objections. Sound familiar?
Jessica, the heroine, played the piano. Just like me.
There was a scene where she playedFür Eliseand Brady thought it was beautiful, so I promised him I’d learn how to play it. My piano teacher had told me it had been way over done, but I didn’t care. I practiced that piece until I could play it perfectly and from memory.
But it wasn’t just the music that hit me so strongly.
At the end of the movie, Jim tells Jessica’s father that he’ll be back for her. He meant every word of it.
I cried. Brady wiped my tears.
Then he kissed me, tucked my face beneath his chin and whispered, “No matter what, I’ll always come back for you. Nothing—not even our parents—can keep us apart.”
And I believed him. With my whole foolish heart.
I sat on the bench and ran my fingers over the keys. Then I began—our song.
No sheet music needed. It lived in me now, stitched into my soul the way good music is supposed to be.
Next cameJessica’s Themefrom the movie. As I played, the tears fell. Quiet. Unrelenting.
It was a world-class pity party. For one.
Or so I thought.
At the end ofJessica’s Theme, I heard it—clapping.
Startled, I turned. Brady stood at the doorway, looking annoyingly fabulous in jeans, a collared shirt, and a blue sweater that somehow made his eyes look even bluer.
I sat there, wiping my face, trying to hide the fact that I’d been crying since the first chord.
“I’m sorry I scared you,” he said, voice low. “I knocked and knocked—no one answered. But then I discovered your door was unlocked.”
“So you just let yourself in?”
He gave me that crooked grin of his. “Well, how else was I supposed to see you?”
I stood up and closed the piano lid slowly. Trying not to shake. Trying not to hope.
Brady crossed the threshold, stepping closer than I thought he would.
“Do you remember the first time you played those songs for me?”
He must’ve been standing there longer than I realized.
“You might be surprised what I remember.” Pain laced my words. Thoughts of the first time I played those songs for him raced through my mind. We sneaked into the school’s choir room. Home wasn’t an option. And Aunt Lu would’ve had a meltdown if he’d come to a recital. When I finished playing, he hugged me tight. Told me he loved me. Me. Just me.
More tears slipped out.
Brady edged closer, gently drawing me to him.
I let him.
Resting my head against his chest, I cried quietly. He stroked my hair with one hand, held me with the other like he was afraid I’d disappear again.
“I’m so sorry, Ellie,” he whispered.
“You promised you’d always come back for me,” I cried. “But you didn’t.”
