Odile forced the housemaid Imogen’s bandaged hands down onto the grand piano keys despite the obvious pain.
/
Chapter 10 / 17
Chapter 10
Imogen’s hands healed slowly.
No permanent damage.
The first piano lesson lasted six minutes.
She cried after one chord.
Not from pain.
Memory.
Mariel did not comfort immediately.
She waited.
Then asked:
“Stop?”
Imogen shook her head.
Good.
Choice.
They played one note.
Then two.
Weeks later, the full first phrase.
Months later, the melody.
Not perfectly.
Not needed.
I listened once from the doorway.
Imogen noticed me.
Stopped.
I raised one hand.
“Continue.”
She did.
The same music that had exposed lies now sounded almost ordinary.
That was better.
May you like
Secrets inflate objects.
Truth lets them shrink.
