He strains to hear them. They have fallen to but a whisper. Even the sound of the waves is muted. He waits, waits, waits. Time slows to a crawl.

He is lost without the melodies.

Are the melodies lost without him?

He looks to the horizon, eyes unblinking. He cannot turn away. He will not turn away.

*

His heart beats stronger than ever. He may not have the voice to reach the distance across the ocean, but he hopes that the melodies can be soothed by the sound of his heart beating. They beat to a rhythm deep within.

The rhythm never stops.

*

He closes his eyes for the briefest of moments. He dreams of dancing.

One dance.

One dance will last forever.

*

Forever. Eternal. Always.

*

The melodies are truly loved. Truly adored. Always needed. Never forgotten.

*