"I've missed your pasta Snowflake. This shit is the best." I laughed as I grabbed his plate and placed it by the sink. He slumped down on the sectional sofa, lay down and closed his eyes. In a few seconds, the man was already fast asleep. I chuckled. He must be tired from driving so I just let him sleep for a while. I washed the dishes and put the plates and utensils away. I grabbed my luggage and tried to place all my used clothes by the hamper in the laundry room near the stairs. As soon as I unpacked the rest of my things, I saw Luke was still asleep. I nudged him softly.

"Luke," I whispered. He slowly opened his eyes. "Huh...what?" he then slowly sat upright and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "What time is it?" I looked at my watch and it's past eleven in the evening. "Do you want to stay for the night?" I asked. He yawned and stretched his arms. "No, I'm just a few blocks away Snowflake. Are you finished unpacking? Do you need help?" I shook my head.

"I'm done with everything." I told him. "Okay, I better go. I still have work in a few hours."

"Are you sure? I mean I don't mind if you stay for the night." I sat beside him and asked worriedly. He placed a hand on my face. "I'll be fine. Just call me if you need anything, okay?" I nodded. I walked him to the door. I turned the knob and opened the door but before he left, he turned to me and smiled. "Welcome home."

"Thank you, for all of this." He gave a wink and went off. I closed the door and locked it immediately and went upstairs to take a bath. I wore my oversized hoodie and boxers and laid on my bed. The smell of fresh new sheets felt so good.

My whole apartment was dark, and the room was just illuminated by the lights from the city outside. My mind wandered a little. A day or so ago I was on a bed with probably the most beautiful man on earth, our bodies tangled together.

Now, I'm in a new state, new city that I now must call home, alone in my bed. I already missed sleeping next to him, missed how warm he was and how gentle he can be, but as far as I know, it's now nothing but a mere memory. I realized how fleeting those moments were. I resigned myself to sleep with a tear falling at the side of my face.

Two weeks had passed and I got accustomed to my new apartment and the city I am now living in. During the weekends, Luke toured me even further and gave me the best places to eat, relax, and even the nearest music studio I could go to to rehearse, just in case I wanted to rehearse outside my apartment. I was on my sofa while I was on video call with my manager, Sandra Michaelson. She just sent me the possible dates of my tour early spring. The dates were still subject to change.

"So, enough about work." She said as she removed her glasses. She interlaced her fingers and rested her chin on them. "How's Portland?" She asked. Her brown eyes piqued with interest.

"Everything is nice. I love it here." It was honest but of course there were occasional homesickness, but it was manageable on my part. "Now you didn't tell me about your trip to Bali the past few weeks." I bit my lip. I became a little busy rehearsing with my music sheets that it felt like it happened ages ago.

"It was good," I said as I browsed through the music sheets on my hand. She raised her brow. "Are you sure that's all to it?"

"Yes, Sandra...That's all there is to it." I told her exasperatedly. I don't want to talk about it. Not anymore. I just get...sad. "If you say so child." She said but Sandra is a smart woman. She knows when something is up.

"Anything else I need to know?" I asked her.

"That's it for now. I'll call you if anything comes up." I nodded. "Say hi to David and Cassie for me." I told her. I haven't seen her husband and her daughter for what felt like a year now.

"I will. Take care Rei." I gave her a smile and we ended the call. As I was flipping through my music notes, I stumbled upon my unfinished composition. I studied it for a minute and it seems I'm almost halfway done with the melody. Knowing I'm done with work for the whole day, I sat by my piano and placed the music sheet by the music rack.

I flipped the fallboard and resumed with my composition. Whenever I play the piano, something happens inside my head. Suddenly the whole room disappears and it's just me, the piano and the melody coming out of the organ. It was as if my fingers had a life of their own and just naturally produced music for every key that I press. I did not realize that I was creating melodies after melodies, writing the notes on my music sheet as I went on, adjusting every beat and melody. The next thing I knew, it was done. I've finished the whole song.

Then I realized what was the driving force behind the song. What pushed the creativity out of my mind and into my music. What inspired me to complete the song in such a short amount of time. It was that memory a few weeks ago. A memory I hated and loved at the same time. I wanted to relive the memory if I could, no matter how painful it was. I smiled at my work, but I can feel the sadness in my eyes.

I realized I have not given any title yet for my new work. My mind wandered a bit, the bottom tip of my pen pressed to my lips until there it was. It resonated deep inside my mind down to my chest. I started writing the title at the top of the music sheet.

Memories of the Ocean and Waves by Reidyr Fairchild.