Day 36

"You learn how to play the violin for no other reason than to get lost in the melodies." Kyle laughed so hard after reading that he had to drink some water afterwards.

"What's so funny?" I asked him when his breathing returned.

Kyle smiled as he said, "Well, I understand why I'd want to get lost in the melodies. Maybe I hate my life and only have pride in my children, am in a loveless marriage, and feel like I've gone nowhere in life. I mean, I didn't even follow my dreams!"

"You may follow them. There's actors that are old and still in the business."

"Only problem with what you've just said is that those same old actors started when they were young. Thirty-six isn't young, it's limboland." Kyle shook his head as he said, "Well, at least your tracing of the violin is half-decent."

I put a hand over my heart. "You think so, I was tracing so carefully I took breaks."

Kyle placed his card on the nightstand. "Why a violin, Renata?"

"It's an instrument I'd imagined you would play. Violin's sound so beautiful, especially when it's a sad or heart wrenching tune...it can be haunting." I looked at Kyle's heart monitor as I said, "I remember my mom and I went to a benefit concert. It was free admission because as they performed, people donated. I remember a violinist playing towards the end a beautifully sad melody that made me cry and smile at the same time."

Kyle grabbed my hand and squeezed it. "How funny. That's how I feel whenever I see you."