Sense of Touch
As the first few notes of music reached her ears, Amy’s breath caught and her body stiffened. She didn’t know the name of the tune, but it often played in her head as she drifted to sleep at night—the tinkling, bell-like notes of a bright, lilting melody. A wave of cold dread gripped her, driving the air from her lungs as her heart swelled against the walls of her chest.
The jewellery store began to tilt wildly and she felt the floor shudder under her feet. She gripped the edge of the display case, knowing the sensation wasn’t real—the explosion had happened over five years ago—but she couldn’t help it. The memories imprinted on her brain had a way of flooding over her in an instant, too rapidly for her to resist them.
Finally she drew a deep breath, and as the room swam back into focus she became aware that the source of the music wasn’t her memories, but someplace nearby.
Turning her head sharply toward the sound, she came to realize the wooden box on the counter was a music box, and at once she recognized it.
Her gaze raked over the backs of the couple standing there. The man was tall with a lean frame, his hair a dark swath between the brim of his fedora and the collar of his black raincoat. The woman was slim, wrapped in a fur-trimmed brown coat, her bobbed blonde tresses all but covered by a high cloche hat embellished with floral appliqués.
Her stomach tightening with a blend of fear and exhilaration, Amy inched along the display case, her gloves sliding over the edge of the glass as she made her way closer to the couple.
Once she had the man’s profile in view, she knew it was him—the boy she had met that awful day when she was just sixteen and he a year older—and her heart battered fiercely against her breastbone. She’d never seen his eyes, but she couldn’t mistake the elegant slope of his nose and chin, or even the long, slender fingers now gripping the music box.
At first she thought his eyes were downcast, focused on the box—but then realized his eyelids were closed, his cheeks wet. He pressed a lever on the box and the tune stopped abruptly.
Amy let her own eyes fall closed, and though the shop fell silent a dreadful sound filled her head—a remembered thundering roar, unleashing memories that swept through her as swiftly and violently as wildfire.
The jewellery store began to tilt wildly and she felt the floor shudder under her feet. She gripped the edge of the display case, knowing the sensation wasn’t real—the explosion had happened over five years ago—but she couldn’t help it. The memories imprinted on her brain had a way of flooding over her in an instant, too rapidly for her to resist them.
Finally she drew a deep breath, and as the room swam back into focus she became aware that the source of the music wasn’t her memories, but someplace nearby.
Turning her head sharply toward the sound, she came to realize the wooden box on the counter was a music box, and at once she recognized it.
Her gaze raked over the backs of the couple standing there. The man was tall with a lean frame, his hair a dark swath between the brim of his fedora and the collar of his black raincoat. The woman was slim, wrapped in a fur-trimmed brown coat, her bobbed blonde tresses all but covered by a high cloche hat embellished with floral appliqués.
Her stomach tightening with a blend of fear and exhilaration, Amy inched along the display case, her gloves sliding over the edge of the glass as she made her way closer to the couple.
Once she had the man’s profile in view, she knew it was him—the boy she had met that awful day when she was just sixteen and he a year older—and her heart battered fiercely against her breastbone. She’d never seen his eyes, but she couldn’t mistake the elegant slope of his nose and chin, or even the long, slender fingers now gripping the music box.
At first she thought his eyes were downcast, focused on the box—but then realized his eyelids were closed, his cheeks wet. He pressed a lever on the box and the tune stopped abruptly.
Amy let her own eyes fall closed, and though the shop fell silent a dreadful sound filled her head—a remembered thundering roar, unleashing memories that swept through her as swiftly and violently as wildfire.