A Sad Song

by Jon Park

Felix’s fingers danced across the piano’s keys. A lover’s caress. Softly. Then fast. Music crashed like waves upon the shore.  He looked out at Los Angeles glistening below his home in the Hollywood Hills. Music had brought him wealth beyond his wildest dreams. Wealth that had built this studio nestled amongst the world’s rich and famous.

The walls of the studio were lined with signs of his success. Gold and platinum discs. Tour posters. Photos of him with presidents. Actors. Even the Pope. He was known the world over. Such a privileged life, far from the dirt farm he had been brought up on in Austin. And he owed it all to the music.

Homes in London and Paris. A private jet at his beck and call. Tables at the best restaurant whenever he wanted to venture out. Then there were the women. Oh, the women. So many. Beautiful, exotic women. Every town. Every city. A new adoring fan, selected and brought to his hotel room to meet their hero. Fresh meat. And he took full advantage of it. Who wouldn’t?  Sure, there were rumours. Nothing his team of lawyers couldn’t squash.

He continued to play. Such a sad song. Words flowed like wine. Memories of those he had loved and lost. Minor chords. The saddest chords. Such a beautiful song. Possibly the best he had ever written. A tear ran down his cheek. He stopped playing and the music hung, reverberating. Fluttered and died. So sad.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall her face. She had been one of the many delivered to him. Used and dispensed with as he moved to the next town and his next conquest.

“Nice. Very nice,” said the man, pressing the gun into the nape of his neck. “It’s just a pity no one will ever hear it. I know Josie would have loved it. That was her name, you piece of shit. She adored you. Yet, you can’t even remember her.  So young. My baby girl. Full of life. You should have left her alone, you sick fuck.”

 Felix closed his eyes. There would be no encore tonight.

Jon Park lives in the North East of England. He is inspired by the work of Cindy Rosmus, Paul D. Brazill, and the Ramones. His favourite film is Get Carter, starring Michael Caine. Jon loves his mam who started it all.