Aubrey stood outside with her violin case hooked on her shoulder. It was stupid of her to think that she could find Lucas in such a cold, winter night. The snow beneath her feet has already accumulated. She couldn't possibly go and look for him when she doesn't even have the slightest bit of idea where he went.

         A slight breeze brushes over her, making her wrap her coat around even tighter. She puts her left hand on top of her right and blows on it to provide some kind of warmth. The freezing air made her hands numb she can barely feel it.

          Slowly, she takes a step forward, little by little, like a toddler learning how to walk for the first time. Her mind has cooled down, her anger dissipating into thin air.

          All that's left is the desire to say those two words. However, she knew that there's a bigger problem than possibly screwing up in their upcoming concert. Can she even say it? Can she apologize sincerely, tell him that she doesn't mean all the things she said before? Tell him that she's sorry, from the bottom of her heart? The mere thought of it terrifies her to no end.

          She shook her head, eyes meeting the flashing rainbow of Christmas lights on the store across the street. She frowned, seeing only a chaotic mix of colors. The bitter yellow of the streetlights reminded her that the sun had already sunk, painting the sky with an indigo hue before fading into black.

          She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

          What a beautiful December, except she started it with a sour note. She slumped her shoulders as if she had just ruined her solo in an orchestra, eyes following the people passing by.

          She remembered walking on and off stage countless times, her performance being accompanied by the tranquil applause of the audience. But she never felt so tired. Felt so drained and just... done.

          People always told her that time is medicine. Give it a few years or so, and you'll be healed. But what people didn't consider is there are things that can no longer be fixed. That's why some things are being replaced, because the former is broken or too old to function properly anymore. Either they give it away, or they throw it in the trash.

          Just like her heart. Shattered into pieces, yet it still manages to give her the dull sense of pain she never asked for.

          She tried to, but she can't recall when it started. The feeling that made her heart wrench yet at the same time make it jump in joy..

          Their close relationship is nothing more than.. well, friendship. Those times when their hands brush over each other when they reach for the score at the same time, when Lucas smiles at her whenever they play Navarra perfectly, when they laugh together when someone plays the wrong note at their sight reading games. It's just... that. Moments you have with friends. It's compiled into one white book that she holds dear. It's her treasure that she won't ever dare of letting go.

         It's a book of her precious memories with the one she grew up with. It's irreplaceable.

         But she knows.

         Her life is just a thousand stories fit into a single chapter.

         And it's about to end.

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Dedicated to emetchayeni and GEM_shile

Because why not?