He awoke upon the soft cushion of the sofa. Eyes tired. Sleep being a cruel and unforgiving mistress upon him. His steel grey eyes swayed about the darkness within the hall. They cast over the piano in the corner of the room. He'd have swore he saw a silhouette at the bench. Sitting there motionless before the ivory keys. Empty eyes gazing back at him. Though he knew it wasn't real. He knew it was what he earned. In a blink the visage was gone or was never really there. He knew it, yet he would still suffer it.
Finally taking a slow drawn breath he mustered the strength to raise himself from the plushy seat and swaddle his way over towards the bar. Hand extending towards the candle to light it with a flame wreathed finger tip, though he paused, then withdrew. He felt it best to be in the realm of darkness for the time. Let the greys and shadows blanket him for now. The world void of all life and color despite him seeing it clear as day. Another breath exhaled as he moved about behind the wooden fixture. He then took up his bottled breakfast and uncorked it for a swig. Forgetting himself for an instant before the rim of the bottle touched his lips. He gathered a stemmed glass and filled it half full, leaving the bottle open to the bar he took a sip and began to pad his way towards the stairs.
An uneasy, but none too foreign ache swelled within his chest. The unseen beast returned and ripped from him what he should have known was far too precious to hold on to for an eternity. Fingers raising to graze over a few littered scars to his chest. It gave a reminder of that which he should never forget. The constant. The one constant that is always near. Always reliable and will never fail him.
His eyes upward as he ascended the stairs, passing through one door after another. Silence all consuming within the still of the dark. Reaching the final door a faint flicker clawed at him from the threshold. A dance of light weak, almost sickly, extended towards him when he opened the door. Color returned to his vision once again as the pale light washed over him from the fire place. Though roughly concealed behind an empty couch. He winced slightly and shifted his gaze towards the bed. Sheets resting without a wrinkled thread. Not far to his left a hollow bassinet welcomed him. And he moved to greet it with a hand to rest upon the silken edge of the railing. Fingers curling with a firm grip. His eyes fell shut slowly. He felt the presence of his old faithful companion. That which should never be forgotten and has been at his side before the coming of age.
His nurturer and his teacher. She who would never fail him. Never leave him. Welcome him back to her bust with an icy embrace. And he would covet it. For it was the constant and her love would strengthen him as it always had.
Pain...
He called out to her quietly with a steady gaze lifting to the ceiling. His hand raising to allow another sip of his glass.
...I welcome thee.
The Constant
