In the dim entertainment room I leaned against the door frame with a wine glass in my hands, untouched. Soft voices hummed on my left and right, harmonising with the autumn storm that orbited the outlying house. The fire kept us warm that night. But your strong features, coated in light from the hearth kept my heart ablaze.

You sat behind the piano, eyes on the keys, and when you mindlessly started playing, the notes entered my ears the way whiskey or rum glides down your throat. Warm and smooth, with a bitter ache that settled in my stomach. It was the first time that week I saw your muscles relax. Your broad shoulders finally in a rhythm with the rest of the world. The notes were floating in the air. Bittersweet nostalgia that no one knew about filled the room.

The song intensified, more keys being tickled at once. And then you looked up, right at me, while your hands kept playing. Notes from the minor keys wrapped around our stare. I felt naked when I unknowingly smiled at you – as you did the same, the chatter disappeared, and for a moment we were back. A warm moment where our hearts reached out to touch, just for a second. Our gazes locked towards eternity.

Until a light tap on my shoulder interrupted, and a friend hugged me good night. Noises flooded in between us again, the piano losing its effect – meaning.

I handed the host my wine glass, untouched and now warm, and followed the unaware friend towards the coats. She did not notice the warmth on my cheeks, nor my shaking hands or glistening eyes.

As I said my goodbyes to the host and co, I lingered for one more second to remember your face and bottle this feeling, so that I will always have an elixir for happiness.

Your beautiful face was still staring at the door frame when I stepped out in the cold, and when the song ended, your shoulders tensed a final eternal time. I finally breathed.