Once the tears began to fall, they had no intentions set on stopping. Her face was wet and weathered down with a hundred years worth of concern. Mark realized a rather alarming fact. Contrary to previous presumptions, he hardly knew the weeping and vulnerable girl in front of him.

            Mark leaned down to touch her arm, with care. He certainly was not accustomed to her in this state. As his hand came into contact with her skin, however, she slapped it away. There was some kind of frenzy in her eyes.

            “Stop! Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me! I’m a virus!” She screamed desperately.

            “What are you talking about?” He tried to be gentle with his words.

            “I’m a disease, it’s contagious. Why else would she die? Why else would he die? They were both so healthy. It had to be me! It had to be me!” She cried out. Her words had a complete lack of logic behind them, yet she said it with such conviction that he almost believed her.

            “I had the vaccination, don’t worry.”

            Mark pulled her toward him and wrapped his arm around her. This time Jenni didn’t fight back; she was too tired.

            “Go away. Go away. Go away.” She kept on whispering over and over. Mark scanned the room and something caught his eye. Her guitar case was ajar, revealing the abandoned object. He slowly stood and walked toward it.

            “What are you doing?” Jenni asked as he picked it up.

            “Nothing much,” Mark returned, positioning the strap around his neck. He closed his eyes, deep in thought. How did it start again? C major, E minor, A minor, G major, F major