NAPATSORN TREESAP

Till I Can’t is the short story inspired by my song in the same title. This story was written to submit the writing task in the Creative Writing Class at Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand, and I want to share it with all of you.

              The noise from the crowd and the car horn of the passersby from the street below made the man lying on bed realised how contrasting his life is from others. His name is Arthur Chamberlain, a tall young man with chocolate brown eyes and dark hair like a midnight sky. He just moved in around a week ago after getting a new job as a songwriter in a record label here in Nashville.

               It was late at night, but he was still up. Maybe, it was because he still was not getting used to his new apartment or the fact that today, he felt so sick at his workplace, for he was assigned to write a love song with Harmony. He thought how could someone say that this is a big world? He had never thought he would see Harmony again at a workplace. They used to be close friends in high school, but one day she just turned out to be someone else. She had never talked to him since they were in grade eleven, and he did not even knowing why. All he thought was, how could someone write a love song together while both of them are mad at each other? He looked at the ceiling with the feeling of wanting to die while music played as a lullaby for calming him to sleep.

               He opened his eyes and looked at the time on his phone. Then, he felt shocked because it was already nine a.m, and in thirty minutes, he had to be at the studio. He got out of bed and quickly had a shower. He arrived at the studio in time. He walked inside the room and saw a raven black hair and brown eyes woman. It was her, Harmony. She still applied the same ruby red lipstick on her lips which reminded him of the old time they were friends.         

           “Hi,” said Arthur, reaching his hand to shake with his co-worker standing in front of him.

            She denied him a handshake and said, “Let’s brainstorm the idea together before we start to write, Mr. Chamberlain.”

            “Alright.” Arthur replied and sat down on the opposite side of Harmony couch, and started to discuss what way the song should be. An hour later, they both came up with the idea that the song would be about a woman who got proposed.

            “The song title would be Till I Can’t. Do you agree with this title, Mr. Chamberlain? I want it to be the song that tells about giving love to someone until the final stage of their lives,” said Harmony. “Mr. Chamberlain?” Then, she looked up at Arthur, for she didn’t get a response from him.

           “Yes… yes, of course.” Arthur replied, and wondered if Harmony caught him looking at her all this time. Then, he decided to ask a question that he had wondered for a long time, “Harmony, can I ask you some questions? Why do you stop being friends with me? Have I done something that makes you hate me?”

            “I think we should focus on our work now, Mr. Chamberlain,” she replied and looked at his eyes for a while like she wanted him to read her mind.

             “Right,” said Arthur.

              Few hours later after trying to create a melody, they both agreed to continue writing it again tomorrow.

               Days have passed, Arthur’s and Harmony’s relationship became better. Working together reminded the old time they were friends. Now, it was the last day for their writing process. They both ready to submit their song.

              “I’ve never thought time will fast like this. It still feels like the first day of the writing session,” said Harmony.

             “That’s why people said ‘Time flies when we’re having fun.’” Arthur replied and thought he wanted to have the power to stop time every time he was with Harmony, for she made him feel less lonely when she was around. All Arthur could do was hope that she feels the same way.

              The session ended. They both thanked each other for their hard work. Arthur walked out the studio and almost arrived at his apartment. Suddenly, he saw the message from Harmony. It’s a video of her dressing in a black dress sitting on a brown couch with a guitar in her arms.

             “Arthur, it’s really hard for me to get the nerve to tell you how I feel. You asked why I stopped being friends with you. I wanted to say that I never ever wanted to end us that way, but I can’t pretend to be friends when I’m still in love with you. When we were sixteen, you just chose that stupid girl over me, so I just want some space to get over you. I hope you know that, but after all these days working together, I couldn’t stop thinking about you until I realised I will never ever get over you, Arthur. Even time cannot help me to stop loving you. You are my every exception. The love I cannot forget.”

            After he heard her, Arthur ran back to the studio hoping she was still there. And yes, it was her, the woman who stood on the front door.

           “Harmony.” He called and pulled her close into his arms. Then asked, “Can we start over again? I hope you know that I will never choose someone over you. I feel the same for what you said on the video Harmony. It’s always been you who I loved since we’re young.” Then, Arthur started to sing the song Till I Can’t.

 

I feel I belong to you

I wanna live with you

I wanna get lost with you

Till we grow old, till I

Can’t hold you like this

Kiss you every night

When you fall asleep

               Arthur sang a song while Harmony could not stop smiling. He felt sparkling in her eyes while she was looking at his eyes. Then asked, “So, will you be my lover?”
Harmony gave him a smile while her face was blush and said, “Yes, of course.” After that, Arthur gave her a kiss that they both had been waiting for a long time.

 

Featuring lyrics from Napatsorn Treesap ©2018 Napatsorn Treesap

Short Story ©2021 Napatsorn Treesap