Page 67 of Sensing Selma
“Good evening to all of you who’ve come to listen to a few songs from the upcoming Keely Lee production ofSense and Sensibility.”
I smiled as I saw Mother and Susan in the front row, both looking at me with such pride. Next to them were Keely, Ayra and Abbie.
The piano player began the next song, and as I sang of love and hope and bright futures, I noticed Damen in the audience...just as I sang;
Romance is a mask that lovers wear to delude
Passion is the drink that provides a temporary fix
True love goes deep, creeps up on us slow
He fidgeted and seemed uncomfortable as my gaze swept over him, passing on to other members of the audience. To my surprise, I felt nothing. No pain, no heartache, no anger.
Nothing.
I smiled with the realization that it was truly over. My depression, my longing for him and the tiny voice in my heart that hoped to one day rekindle what we’d had. It was all gone.
As I neared the end of the song, I saw Major Cooper and my heart fluttered. A swell of emotions carried me to the final high notes.
His gaze was steady, his smile knowing. Had he realized long before I had how I felt about him? All those days together. I was almost twenty-one years old, and I had never really sat down to get to know a man. My relationships had always been superficial. Having fun was the main objective, not a profound relationship.
I closed my eyes and smiled; I loved him. I’d fallen in love with him, true love, not just a teenage crush.
The remainder of my small concert went by without incident, but as I finished my second encore and walked off stage, I sought him.
Mother and Susan were there, eager to congratulate me, and I thanked them profusely, but when Major Cooper quietly joined the crowd, a fistful of roses in his hand, all were forgotten.
I ran to him, threw my arms around his neck and kissed him. There were no words. There was no need. His kiss said it all.
EIGHTEEN
Susan
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ILOOKED AT MY LITTLEsister with more pride than I would have thought myself capable of. She’d done it. She’d written a dozen songs and had performed them flawlessly.
