Fulfillment by Golland, M. (best large ebook reader .txt) 📕

hesitation, just confidence and poise;loving what she was doing. Her ability to take that stage and singto a room full of people made me so proud of her. It also gave methe nerve I needed to do the same for Bryce, that, and Carly’sadvice to just sing it to him.

As the songwinded down to a close and Lucy slowly pressed the final keys onthe keyboard, the room erupted into a round of applause. I got tomy feet— thankful that I no longer needed any form of walkingaid—and clapped the loudest.

“Thank youvery much,” Charli said as she positioned herself in the middle ofthe stage and curtsied. I laughed at her brazenness and winked ather as she made her way toward me.

Meeting herhalf way, I knelt down and wrapped my arms around her, giving her atight squeeze. “That was absolutely beautiful, Charli-Bear. I am soproud of you.”

“That was socool, Mum! I want to be a singer when I get older.”

Normally Iwould say ‘add it to the list’ or ‘that’s nice’ knowing she wouldchange her mind more than likely the very next day, but I could seethe determination in her eyes this time. “You can be anything youwant, Darling.” I gave her a quick squeeze then noticed Derek grabBryce’s guitar.

Lucy steppeddown from the stage and squatted next to us. “Well done, Charli.That was perfect. Now it’s Mummy’s turn, and she is going to beperfect too.” She gave me a reassuring grin. Charli looked at meconfused.

I winked ather and put my finger to my lips. “Shhh, it’s a secret forBryce.”

Standing backup, I smoothed down the front of my pink floral patterned dress.I’d pinned my hair up on purpose, making sure it was neatly securedand out of my way.

“You’ll befine,” Lucy said as she stood, giving my hand a quick squeeze. Shethen proceeded to direct Charlotte back to the table. I continuedon and stepped up on the stage, taking a deep breath before turningaround. When I did turn around I found Bryce’s eyes and his eyesonly, causing an overwhelming calm to roll across me. I smiled athim and his brow furrowed.

Derek steppedup to the stool I was standing by and handed me Bryce’s guitar,having prepared it for me moments ago. I put the strap over my headand took a seat on the stool, adjusting the microphonecomfortably.

As Irepositioned it, I spoke to the crowd, but my message was for oneperson. “Hello everyone. I have to let you all in on a littlesecret. You see, for the past few months, I have been learning toplay the guitar for the sole purpose of performing here today as asurprise for someone who means the world to me.” I allowed my eyesto find Bryce’s again. “This special someone and I suffered a greattragedy recently, and in amongst that tragedy, I came to realisethat I couldn’t live without him. He always finds ways to supportme and give me everything that I could possibly want or need. So Iwanted to give him something back, something only I could give him.Bryce, this is from me to you.”

His face wasemotionless, but not in a bad way. I think he was in shock in someway or another. I looked down and positioned my fingers and beganstrumming, counting the 6/8 time signature. Derek joined in,playing his part and smiling encouragingly at me. I looked upagain, deliberately finding Bryce as I sang the opening line. Headjusted his seated position, leaning forward with his elbowsbalanced on his knees and his hand covering his mouth. He shook hishead in disbelief, which made me smile through the lyrics as Icontinued to play the song.

When I got tothe chorus, I emphasized that he was my only exception by lookingdeep into his eyes and singing the words to him and him only. Herepeated the shaking of his head at me, shock and disbelief stillplastered across his face. Lucy gave him a loving nudge to theshoulder but he didn’t take his eyes from mine.

As I began thesecond verse, I relaxed a little and swayed to the rhythm, closingmy eyes and letting the song absorb me. I sang like this until thesong escalated into the chorus, which was when I reopened my eyesto find Carly, Nate, Charli and the rest of the band smiling andswaying along with me. The fact that I had naturally closed my eyesstunned me a little, instantly worrying me that I may have stuffedup my playing in one way or another. Ironically, worrying if I hadstuffed up or not, caused me to then accidently miss a chord, butluckily it was the chord that Derek played along with me, so mymistake would’ve gone unnoticed to majority of the room. I gaveDerek a knowing look, but he just continued to smilereassuringly.

So I steppedit up a little and held the final note in the chorus, deciding Iwould do what I had informed Derek I wanted to do. I stood up andremoved my guitar, gently placing it on my stool, then I grabbedthe microphone from the stand with the intention to concentratemore on my vocals. As the song escalated during the bridge, Istarted to make my way down off the stage, just like Bryce had donewhen he played the guitar solo for me. I watched his expressionchange from awed disbelief to amusement as I slowly stepped towardhim singing the lyrics in the bridge. I stopped just in front ofhim and held the longest note before the final chorus then droppedmy hand from the microphone to touch his face as I once again toldhim he was the only exception. He placed his hands on top of mineand pressed them to the side of his face then pulled me to him,forcing me to sit on his lap. I giggled a lyric as he helpedposition me comfortably on top of him, wrapping his arms around myback and across my lap.

I looked intohis eyes as I sang the final line, and no longer able to hold in myemotion, I let a tear fall to my cheek. He reached up and wiped ittenderly with his finger then pulled me