Taylor knew she couldn’t read music, at least, not until such time as they found some written in Braille. So what she was playing was either pieces she already knew, or ones she made up, and both he loved. This was a self-composed piece, and it was so sad.
Rose played the last notes, and when she let up the last key, she sat in silence for a moment.
“Is someone there?” she said, hearing something she thought might be the sound of someone breathing.
“Yeah, it’s me, sweetie,” Taylor replied. “What do you call that one?”
“I don’t know,” she replied. “I just play.”
“And you’re very good at it.”
“Thanks.”
Silence.
“I should go,” Rose said.
“Don’t stop playing because of me. I’ll leave.”
“No, I want to go.”
“Okay.”
Taylor watched as she felt around for her cane. A look of frustration appeared when she couldn’t find it. Taylor looked over a realised that it was lying on the floor - it must have fallen. He wondered if he should saw anything. He hated it when she had these moments, but he also knew that these moments would help her learn how to deal with being blind. Taylor had often advised Rita that sometimes they simply had to be cruel to be kind, but sometimes it was just as cruel for those watching on.
“Where is it?” she asked.
Taylor was quiet, not knowing what to say.
“Dad?” she begged.
“It’s on the floor,” he answered at last.
Rose leant to her side, felt around, and in a few seconds had located it.
“Thank you,” she said, standing up.
“That’s okay,” he replied.
He hung around in the studio for a minute or so after she left, and then headed downstairs to the kitchen, where Rita was making dinner.
“Is something wrong?” she asked, noticing the look on his face.
Taylor was quiet for a moment.
“Why’d it have to happen to Rose?”
“I don’t know, honey.”
“And on her birthday, of all days! What kind of birthday present was that?”
“I think we really need time - and don’t you say we’ve had time, these things take more than a few weeks -”
“It’s been two months!”
“And it will take longer still. I know it’s hard, darling. It’s just as hard for me. We both would have gladly given our sight if Rose could have hers, but it’s not the way things worked out,” she touched his cheek. “Everything is going to work out. I’m sure of it.”
Taylor smiled softly and gave her a hug.