She was not only a peasant, but an orphaned one at that. He was the only son of the richest merchant family in their country, with his future paved for him not in stones but in gold and silver. These two, their worlds were as different as the heaven and the earth. They were both born humans, but with very different fates indeed. Like how she would continue to live in poverty until the day she die, he would continue to live the life fit for a king. Unfair, you say? This was simply how the world worked. The poor continue to be poor, the rich continue to be rich. They never confronted each other about it, the poor were too prideful and the rich were too disgusted.

Until, of course, by chance, they met. It was purely by coincidence, for fate did not exist for stories outside fairytales. They met, and fell in love. Being too young, too unaware of the ropes of the world, they fell in love and pledged forever to one another. Their naivety were both envied and completely detested. They shared an innocent view of the world, both untainted by the cruelty of the society. He took her hand and invited her into his dreams, and subsequently, invited himself into her world, a world of poverty. But because the young believed in the non-existent wings dream carry, he vowed to overcome the obstacles.

He loved music, having grown up listening to the most iconic melodies from around the world. His parents took notice of this, but he was still so young. They would allow him a few more years of fun and pleasure, before shaping their son into their own money-making machine, a role fit for their only successor to their name and business. But they obviously did not see God’s meddling coming, in the form of a very sweet, energetic girl. Her amazement at his talent and careless encouragement sparked him onto a journey on the most difficult path in the world. But if they were happy, wasn’t that enough?

Having been thrown out of the house after putting up a remarkable fight with his parents, he spent his time between composing music and working labor jobs. He was a strong young lad, but the harsh world was not meant for him. His beautiful hands meant for the piano slowly became coarse, mimicking hers. As he played his newly composed song to her, she broke down into tears, knowing exactly what her sins were. Poverty had a cruel way of taking away one’s freedom, and this lad in front of her, would nonetheless be subjected to the same fate one day. She cried, because she had torn apart his wings with her own hands.

He wanted his music to last for centuries to come, enjoyed by people of the future and beyond. But she couldn’t help but think, as she listened to him over and over again, that this song, this beautiful melody would never be more than a piece of paper with his name on it. She cried for his forgiveness, but he gently held her, kissing her forehead, cheeks then lips. She was regretful, he was thankful. He tried to ease the situation, telling her that he was leaving for a neighbouring church, because they donating their organ and needed help moving it. He would finally have a chance to try out his music on something other than this unrefined piano in their local church. He was so ecstatic, while she could only smile gently, wishing for his swift return.  

The day he left, it had been an unusually warm and sunny day, as if his cheerfulness could affect the weather as well. Basking in sunlight, it appeared as if he was an angel himself, he waved goodbye to her. That was then, her thoughts overlapped with his, finally finding a connection again. No matter what, they will be together until the end of the days. Even poor, she had survived, didn’t she? She vowed to be his pair of wings, broken as they may, she will make sure he soar to the sky, as he rightfully should. Yet, as quickly as the little determination started, it ended. Some stories are never meant to be fairytales.

That was the last time she ever saw of him. Him and his cheerful smile, it was the final image her mind would ever have of him, her lover. An earthquake shook the whole country, and while many escaped unscathed, herself included, he was not so fortunate. The organ, the very organ he had wanted to play, fell on him. Along with his bones, his future and dreams, those were crushed as well. It was as if someone had closed the book of her life, her life went on a standstill since then. She drifted in the sea of time, dragged along by waves manned by humans. A merchant fell in love with her, and when he proposed for her, all was agreed for. Pressured by her debt to the man who adopted her as a child, she agreed. But she never gave permission. That permission, it belonged to him, only him.

Someone said that the only thing constant in the world was change, yet was it really? The world never changed, it was on a standstill like she was. The sun would continue to orbit, as would the earth, but her, she was imprisoned in time, many years ago in her memories with him. To her husband and children whom loved her, she could utter the same loving words again and again, yet they would still mean nothing. She was so absorbed in her longing for what could have been that she became blinded to anything else. The only thing that sustained her in this life was the thoughts of their make-believe lifes.

All was not lost, however tragic their ending was. For, every story had its own conclusion. Her adolescent granddaughter the television, an amazing innovation back in her days, and there was a report of volunteers recovering places damaged so greatly by earthquakes. She didn’t concentrate, even when her granddaughter asked for confirmation if it was near their hometown. Only when his music played, she snapped out of her reverie. It was the same piece that she thought would never see sunlight, now being played in national television, broadcasted all over the country. One of the volunteers found the music sheet inside the organ, and thought the piece of musical masterpiece had to be shared with the world.

For the first time in her life after losing him, her prison shattered. The tear gates opened, and it streamed down her cheeks. Are you listening? Are you listening to this, wherever you are? The song that you composed and played, filled with your naïve hopes and dreams, it’s still here. Your sweet love song, it’s played all over our country and will be, for years and years to come. 

Can you imagine Baekhyun playing the piano with his lovely fingers? *drools