The Best Medicine by Dellani Oakes – Part 15

Tanya is surprised to find herself on an island, owned by Morgan's family, where his brother is getting ready to film a video with his band.

Molly frowned, then sighed deeply. "Morgan's always been impetuous. When he sees something he wants, he goes for it all out."

"Good way to get hurt."

"Yes, a lot. But you've been hurt badly too, haven't you? I can see it in your eyes. You know his pain."

"God, is it that obvious? I thought I kept it pretty well hidden."

"Not when you're around him. You work hard to shove the old pain aside, but it's there." She pointed to the corners of Tanya's eyes. "I don't have to worry about you with him." It wasn't a question, it was a statement of fact.

"No, Molly. We're good together. I never thought I'd find someone I clicked with so fast. And I never, ever thought I'd throw all my inhibitions to the wind, and end up in bed with a man I just met." She reddened. "I'm sorry, I'm saying too much. I forget I'm talking to his sister."

"It's cool," Molly said. "Morgan's never been shy about his sex life. I probably know more about it than I'd like to. He doesn't brag, he's just very matter of fact. Just to me, he won't say a word to the guys. He's a gentleman. I heard in vivid detail, the night he lost his virginity. God, I wanted him to shut up, but he gets really hyper sometimes, it was like trying to stop the river!"

"I noticed the hyper thing. My younger brother is like that, too."

Molly stood silently for a moment, considering something before she spoke again. "I don't suppose he told you the origin of this song."

"He told me he wrote it about the end of his relationship."

Molly nodded. "He wrote it as a suicide note and then he tried to kill himself. He's a doctor, he would have been successful. He cut his wrists. If Cullen hadn't found him...." She shivered. "I never thought he'd get that low. I had no idea he was so depressed. He's always been so upbeat, so full of life. But he's worked through that now, he's himself again."

"Why are they doing this song as their first video?"

"Because it's their biggest hit. The boys are well known locally, even done a few gigs in other towns, and had a short tour opening for a couple bigger bands. They always close with this tune, like they did last night. Cullen pours his heart into this song. It's like he's channeling all that sorrow from Morgan, wait till you see him."

"I heard him sing it last night," Tanya said quietly.

"That was without Morph singing with him. Wait," she said with finality.

The band was coming out from the makeup trailer. She saw Morgan dressed like an Indian, carrying a guitar. The costumes looked very authentic for local Indian tribes who had lived in these woods a few hundred years ago. Tanya was impressed by the adherence to detail. They took their positions and the director started talking to them, telling them what he wanted them to do.

"The sound quality probably won't be that great here," he said. "But we want you really to sing. I can't stand that lip sync shit, you can always tell when a band doesn't know what it's doing. We'll do a studio recording and lay it in, no one will know the difference. Okay, places everyone!"

The bystanders were instructed to move away from the set and be totally quiet. The band started to play. The lead guitar picked out a simple melody, then added some more sophisticated riffs. The drums crept in under the guitar and the bass entered so subtly, Tanya hardly realized he was playing. The keyboards joined with an echoing chord, as the introduction continued for another minute or so.

Once more, Tanya felt herself transported away on the melody, transfixed by the power of it. The vocals started like an eagle's cry in three part harmony. Tanya didn't know how they could make that sound, but it lanced her heart like a knife, leaving her gasping. Cullen's voice rose above the melody, swelling, formless and wordless. Morgan's harmony wound in and around, gradually becoming words.

"In the twilight of my days, I walk alone in endless night. Trapped among these memories, All alone I fight. I can't find the light no more, Your darkness clouds my ways. You're just another memory, That fades into the haze.

"Then why should I stay here, When I'm so all alone? I'm leaving now—I'm leaving, Can't break a heart of stone."

Tanya was in tears before the first chorus ended. The instrumental picked up again, winding around her like a shroud of sorrow. She felt a comforting arm around her and looked up into Molly's face. She had tears in her eyes too. In fact, when Tanya glanced around at the assembly, there were hardly any dry eyes to be seen. Cullen's voice crept back in, picking up the vocal, crooning sorrowfully.

"So now in my misery, I face the world alone. Nothing seems to matter, Can't break a heart of stone. The blood flows thickly from my veins, but I can't seem to care. It's flowing like a river, and pooling round the chair.

"Then why should I stay here, When I'm so all alone? I'm leaving now—I'm leaving, Can't break a heart of stone.

"Did you ever love me? I don't believe it's true. I used to think I loved you, But God knows if I do. As eagles cry unto the sun, As wind cries to the sky, So my heart pours out its pain, This is my last good bye.

"Then why should I stay here, When I'm so all alone? I'm leaving now—I'm leaving, Can't break a heart of stone."

© 2020 Dellani Oakes

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