Ch. Piano boy Ch 5 Piano boy Ch 5

I’d thought his apology was about what he’d 

done to me. It turned out he was just worried 

I’d go after Sarah. 

Sarah came storming out of the restaurant. 

“Ethan! What the hell are you doing talking to 

that bitch? Tired of me already? After 

everything I’ve given up for you?” Her voice rose hysterically. “I flunked my auditions 

because of you! My career is ruined! And 

you’re screwing around behind my back? You have no idea…I’m pregnant!” 

Pregnant? I stared at them, my mind reeling. Just then, a cab pulled up. I jumped inside, praying Sarah wouldn’t do something drastic and that I wouldn’t end up back in Ethan’s 

crosshairs. 

Later, I heard the whole story. Sarah had found out she was pregnant and wanted an 

abortion. Ethan, remembering her death in my past life, had refused. Typical Ethan. He had to fix everything, control everything, even 

Sarah’s body. 

The rest of the story unfolded with 

く 

predictable melodrama. Ethan and Sarah got married (not legally, they were too young). 

Ethan got a job teaching piano to toddlers. Sarah spent his meager earnings. Then she 

left, running off with some rich guy, abandoning Ethan and their four–month–old 

son. She resurfaced a few years later, 

demanding the child back. Turns out, the kid 

wasn’t even Ethan’s. She’d been with another 

guy all along. She’d run off to him, he’d 

gotten rich, and now they couldn’t have kids 

of their own. Ethan went ballistic. The whole 

thing ended up in court, with Ethan getting arrested for assaulting Sarah (not seriously, 

thankfully), and losing custody of his son. The 

Millers had to sell their house to pay Sarah 

off. 

I heard all this secondhand, through the high 

school grapevine. It was a messy, pathetic 

< 

Surovi grapevine. It was a messy, palnenic 

saga, but it had nothing to do with me. 

I went to college, built a successful career, 

made my parents proud. They kept bugging me about getting married, settling down. “Are you still hung up on that Miller boy?” my dad 

asked one day. I hadn’t heard Ethan’s name 

in years. He hadn’t become a famous 

musician. He’d vanished into obscurity. “Dad,” 

I laughed. “What are you talking about?” 

(C 

“Just saying…heard he’s in the city, started 

some small business. Doing pretty well, 

apparently.” Ethan, with his memories of a 

future that never happened, would probably 

always land on his feet. 

“He’s married with a kid, Dad. What do I 

care?” 

L 

“Never mind. Your mother’s calling me for dinner. Take care of yourself, honey.” 

I hung up, a strange feeling settling in my gut. 

I ran into Ethan a few weeks later. A blind 

date. Fancy little restaurant. We’d met a few 

times, this guy, Jason. Nice guy, good job, 

seemed genuinely interested. 

He was already there when I arrived. “Cold 

out, huh? What can I get you? My friend owns 

this place, they make a killer latte.” 

“Anything’s fine,” I said, my eyes scanning 

the room, landing on a piano tucked away in 

a corner. I walked over to it, a jolt of 

recognition running through me. There was a 

chipped piece of wood on the side, covered 

with a faded Doraemon sticker. I remembered 

that sticker. When I was twelve, during a 

power outage, Ethan, the new kid next door, had kept me company, playing the piano all 

night long. I’d accidentally chipped his piano, 

and we’d covered it with the sticker. Some 

first loves leave a mark. 

“You play?” Jason asked. 

I shook my head, pressing a few keys. “No. 

But someone I used to know did. He was very 

good.” 

Jason grinned. “Funny, my friend plays too. 

Or he did. Injured his hand. I always told him, 

if it wasn’t for that, he’d be a concert 

pianist.” 

“Your friend?” 

“Yeah, the owner. Over there.” 

I turned and saw him, standing by the bar, 

wearing a black shirt and an apron. He looked 

older, worn down, not like the boy I 

remembered, but a man weathered by life. He 

was limping. I realized he had a prosthetic 

leg. 

He didn’t seem to recognize me. He walked 

over, greeting Jason. “Your girlfriend? Very 

pretty. You should’ve brought her around 

sooner. 

وو 

Jason blushed. “Don’t embarrass me, man. 

Quinn hasn’t said yes yet. 

وو 

Ethan looked at me, his eyes widening in 

recognition. “Quinn?” 

“Ethan,” I said, a small smile playing on my 

lips. “Long time no see. 

99 

“You’ve…changed,” he said, searching my 

face. 

“I’m sure I look different than I did in high 

school,” I replied dryly. 

Jason, sensing the awkwardness, excused 

himself to go to the restroom, leaving us 

alone. 

“So,” Ethan said finally. “How…how have you 

been?” 

“As you can see, I’m doing just fine.” 

He nodded, glancing towards the restroom. 

“Jason’s a good guy, Quinn. Honest, 

< 

naraworking, good тamily. He a treat you 

right.” 

I chuckled, not bothering to respond. 

“Do you…still play?” I asked. 

He looked up, surprised, then a wry smile 

touched his lips. “Sometimes. But you know… 

my hand. I’ll never be what I was.‘