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“Oh god, I don’t want to remember this. I don’t want to hear these songs,” Zoey cried, covering her ears. She turned to the wall, curling into herself. Max sat beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. She turned around slowly towards him. Zoey peered at him, slowly releasing her hands. She grasped Max’s touch on her knee, taking a deep breath. They stood up together. Zoey leaned on Max’s shoulder heavily.
She turned to watch the memory again and swallowed her dread. Max held her hand tight. “The day my dad died. Too many sad songs.”
“You don’t have to show me this,” Max said, squeezing her hand. Zoey took a step forward.
“I can’t stop it, somehow I am replaying the songs I’ve heard to you. The memories,” Zoey said, watching her memory shift. She hunched over with nausea and covered her ears. Zoey dropped to her knees on the wooden floor of her house. An ocean of chaotic voices and snippets of songs floated around them. She wheezed in pain as Max rushed over to her. He gazed at her worriedly, shaking her shoulders.
“Zoe! Zoey! What’s happening?” Max shouted, panic rising in his chest.
“The songs are all coming back. I can’t shut them out,” Zoey muttered, clenching her jaw.
“Okay, focus on me. Listen to me. Shut everything out but my voice,”. Zoey nodded and took a shaky breath. After a few moments, silence surrounded them. Max gingerly grabbed Zoey’s wrists and placed them down. Her eyes widened at hearing silence. “Can you hear anything?”
“I hear you. Okay, let’s not do that again,” Zoey let out a dry pained laugh. Max helped her up, holding her protectively. They looped arms together and stared at a new memory.
The memory shifted to a dark crowded street. Zoey recognized it as the night of Simon’s engagement party. Her mouth curved into a smile as the memory of Max and Zoey entered their views.
“What is this?”
“A heart song,” Zoey whispered joyfully.
When I wake up, well I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who wakes up next to you
When I go out, yeah I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who goes along with you
When I get drunk, well I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who gets drunk next to you
And when I haver, hey I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s havering to you
Max stared at himself singing, entranced by Zoey’s reactions. Zoey smiled wide at the memory, slight tears glistening in her eyes.
And I would roll 500 miles
And I would roll 500 more
Just to be the man who rolls a thousand miles
To fall down at your door
The song ended as the both of them climbed onto the scooter. Their surroundings shifted to the next memory.
“Did I sing that song?” Max asked, cocking his head. Zoey laughed heartily.
“That song made me see you in a new light. It’s one of my favorites, ``she admitted. Max’s heart fluttered at her confession.
“What other songs did I sing?”
“I’ll show you the playlist I made.” Zoey grinned watching the next song take hold. Her eyes widened as she took a shaky breath. Max laced their fingers together tightly.
“What song is this?” Max asked, listening intently.
“When you took Leif to Karaoke, you were still pretty mad at me,” She replied as the music started. Max watched himself sing.
“Sorry?”
I’m doing this tonight
You’re probably gonna start a fight
I know this can’t be right
Hey baby come on
I loved you endlessly
When you weren’t there for me
“No, I’m sorry. I reacted poorly to everything.” Zoey glanced at him, biting her lips. Max shook his head.
“No, I’m sorry,” He admitted, squeezing back her hand.
“Look at where we are now, we are both mature adults in a relationship!” Zoey exclaimed, bringing a smile to both of their faces. Suddenly the memory shifted to SPRQ Point in bright daylight. Max gazed at the memory in curiosity. Zoey chuckled.
“What?” Max asked, arching his eyebrow.
“This is the first heart song you ever sang to me,” She admitted. They watched the memory of Max start singing and dancing.
I was sleeping and right in the middle of a good dream
Like all, at once I wake up from something that keeps knocking at my brain
Before I go insane I hold my pillow to my head
And spring up in my bed Screaming out the words I dread
“I thought you were singing about insomnia”, Zoey jokes, watching memory Max turn to face Zoey.
I think I love you
“That’s the song I chose?” Max questioned. “I would have chosen a different song to admit my feelings to you.” Zoey giggled and beamed at him. Suddenly, The memory shifted back to blank. “I think we have to let go now.”
“Maybe we could do this again, once you get the hang of your powers and telepathy,” Max teased.
“Maybe,” Zoey said before letting go. The world turned white and both of them woke to the melody of raindrops.
Max jolted up, blinking his eyes rapidly. Zoey groaned, pressing her palm to her forehead. Rain scattered down the window. Her apartment lay in the dark, lit by cloudy skies. Together they stood up out of bed. Zoey slumped on the couch.
“My head hurts. Guess my power comes with the feeling of a huge hangover.”
“I'll get you some water.”
Max left Zoey on the couch and reached for a glass. All of a sudden soft music started playing. He glanced around for the source. It was a heart song.
Most days I wake up with a pit in my chest
There are thoughts that I can’t put to rest
There’s a worry I can’t place
Zoey moved gracefully like an angel dancing. The room curved around her bright red hair. Max was memoized by her movements.
Most nights, I am restless, and quiet won’t come
So I lay there and wait for the sun
There’s a trouble that won’t show its face
You came out of nowhere
And you cut out of the noise
I make sense of the madness
When I listen to your voice
Zoey gazed at him with a small smile. She walked forward to him, reaching out to touch him.
Darling, only you can ease my mind
Help me leave these lonely thoughts behind
When they pull me under,
I can feel my sanity start to unwind
Darling, only you can ease my mind
The music ended as she stood in front of him. Zoey cocked her head, eyeing him carefully.
“What?” She asked, her eyes wide.
“You just sang a heart song,” Max admitted, inching closer to her. She scoffed before staring back at him. He bit his lip.
“Was it any good?”
“Of course it was,” He said, placing his hands on her hips. They pulled each other closer.
“Would I know the song?” She questioned as she arched her eyebrow. Max shook his head. “Nevermind-how do you feel about gaining telepathy?”
Max took a shaky breath and grinned at her. “I feel closer to you. And watching all these memories-”
“Are you going to say something cheesy?”
“I was going to say that the memories are making me reevaluate my music taste,” He teased. Zoey chuckled and kissed him. Max etched the memory of her heart song in his mind. He replayed the lyrics in his head and her dance moves. Max broke apart the kiss.
“I’m glad someone else could see the music I hear all day. Musical numbers can be pretty isolating and overwhelming. I’m glad that I could share it with you,” Zoey confessed, gazing at him. “I don’t feel so alone. I don’t feel so crazy-you know what I mean?”
“I get it, thank you for sharing your music with me,” Max said. “Besides, I could listen to you serenade me all the time.”
Zoey let out a joyful laugh and hugged him close. He embraced her, never letting go.