The door quickly closed, causing a bang that resonated in the middle of that cool summer night. Harper was so angry, angry with himself, that he had violently slammed it, to escape from that tiny soundproof room. He had been struggling, every single day, to compose a decent song for months, yet nothing was ever satisfactory enough. He had always been a perfectionist, he was aware of it, but the pressure he felt had completely dried up every bit of inspiration from him. Therefore, he needed to get away from the studio, to be alone with his guitar.

He sat down on the emergency stairs – which ran along the back side of the building, up to the top floor. He held his beloved guitar in his arms while, with his gaze, he scanned the night sky, desperately searching for his lost inspiration. Unfortunately, not even the stars seemed to help him.

Harper took his cell phone out of his pocket. He carefully read again the draft of the lyrics in the notes. He sighed. «This won't do.» he whispered.

He needed to relax to regain his focus. He placed his cell phone on the step, closed his eyes, and then took a deep breath. He tried to get rid of every useless thought, to go back to when music was the only thing that mattered to him. Nothing else should have mattered, music was all that made him happy. He shouldn't forget it.

He caressed the strings with his fingers and abandoned himself to the music. Without thinking too much, he let the words fall out from his mouth. «Every day among billions of people, but it's like you're alone... there's a voice in your head telling you– »

«Telling you loneliness can't hurt you.»

Harper's fingers froze. He stopped playing and placed his guitar against the wall, to look over the banister of the stairs. «I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you.» he heard them say, though he couldn't quite make out the figure in the darkness. «It came naturally to me to continue the sentence.», their nervous laughter, however, reached loud and clear, up to the third floor, where Harper was.

Harper should have been angry at that interruption, but instead he seemed almost happy. «Can you repeat it? The sentence from just now.» he asked, grabbing his cell phone from the step, ready to correct the lyrics.

He received no answer but heard footsteps on those metal steps. The vibrations, punctuated by the steps, became increasingly stronger and closer. And soon, Harper was able to identify the person to whom that voice belonged. Thick brown curls framed the face of a young boy, who was probably the same age as him. His gray eyes, strangely, didn't seem unknown at all.

The boy reached out and motioned for Harper to hand him his phone. His ease surprised him. He should have freaked out at the sight of Harper, but instead he was pretty calm. He motioned for his phone again and Harper handed it to him. The boy made himself comfortable on one of the steps and began typing on the keyboard. Harper sat down next to him, to see the corrections he was making.

«Everyday surrounded by people but always so alone. There's a voice in your head telling you loneliness can't hurt you.», the boy read again what he had written. «Sounds better this way.», he smiled at him before handing him back the phone.

Harper was almost spellbound as he stared at him. He felt so comfortable being around him. There was something extremely familiar about his face. «Devin… Woods?» Harper slurred.

«I was wondering when you'd notice.»

Harper's eyes widened. «I can't believe it!» he said throwing his arms around his neck. Devin hugged him back without hesitation. «Long time no see!», he pushed him away so he could look at him again. «What are you doing here? Do you work in this recording studio? Why didn't we meet before?»

Devin shook his head to reply all those questions. «No, I was just passing by and I recognized your voice.» he answered. «I apologize again for interrupting you. I hope I haven't been inappropriate with my corrections.»

«Not at all, I appreciated your help.» Harper said. «In fact, I'd be happy if you could help me further.»

Devin looked him straight in the eyes, almost surprised by that unexpected request.

«You didn't stop writing, did you?» asked Harper.

«It’s just a hobby now.» Devin replied.

«I see… »

Devin couldn't stand the disappointed look on Harper's face. «I can give you my number.» he said. «So if you need any help, you can call me.»

Harper's hazel eyes lit up again. Without hesitation, he unlocked the screen of his cell phone and handed it to Devin. «Yes, please.»

Devin quickly dialed and handed the phone back to him. «It's getting late, I really have to go.» he said, getting up from the step. «It was nice to see you again, for once not from behind a screen.», he smiled.

Harper sprang to his feet. He greeted him with a hug, a rather tight one. «I’ll call you.» he whispered in his ear, before releasing him and letting him go away.