Page 36 of Symphony for Lies (Tangled Truths #2)

My head felt heavy, and I sighed as I tried to pry my puffy eyelids open. The light burned, sharp and unforgiving, making my vision blurry. Blinking rapidly, I gradually recognized my room and slowly sat up.

“Take it easy,” a deep voice whispered beside me.

Zane. He was sitting in a chair right next to my bed, his strong hand wrapped around mine.

I pulled my fingers from his grasp, and his gaze dropped to his empty palm, lingering there for a moment, expression unreadable.

My eyes wandered through the room, taking in my fresh change of clothes and the damp cloth resting on my nightstand. Zane had taken care of me.

But he hadn’t taken care of himself.He was still wearing the same clothes from the day before. They were slightly damp in places. His hair had air-dried, and deep shadows lingered under his eyes.

“Thank you.”

He looked up, a tired smile flickering across his lips. “Nothing to thank me for.”

Silence settled between us.

It wasn’t awkward, but not exactly comfortable, either.

“How… did you know?” I finally asked, needing to understand how he found out about everything.

“I didn’t. I had no idea what had happened.” He rubbed a hand over his face, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I came because I was drowning in my own fucking misery. I just… needed to see you. To hold you. To be with you.”

His honesty made my chest tighten.

“I’m just glad I was here,” he continued. As if he were sealing a vow, he reached for my hand again. “And that you didn’t throw me out the second you saw me.”

I let him hold it for just a moment, then pulled away again. “Zane…”

“Amelia.” His voice was steady, unwavering. “I won’t give up. I know you think I betrayed you, but I’ll make it right. But that doesn’t matter right now. You have more important things to deal with.”

With quiet conviction, he added, “I’ll be your shadow. I’ll be here, watching you.”

I exhaled shakily. “And what if I don’t want you to?”

His breath hitched, but his eyes never wavered from mine.

“For the longest time…” He let out an almost bitter laugh, shaking his head slightly. “Wanting you feels like standing on the edge of a blade. Every step closer to you cuts me deeper. But walking away? That would fucking destroy me.”

A sharp ache pulsed in my chest.

“I don’t deserve you, Amelia, not after everything. If you walk away, I’ll let you. Hell, I should let you go now. But I won’t lie. I don’t know how to stop wanting you. How to stop needing you. You’re in my every breath and every damn second. No matter how much I try, I can’t let you go.”

“You’re right,” I finally whispered. “I need time.”

His breathing grew unsteady, but he nodded slowly.

At that moment, Ivy padded into the room, jumping onto my bed with a loud, rumbling purr. She curled beside me, pressing into my side as if she sensed I needed comfort.

“I can’t keep her.” My throat burned with admission.

“I’ll take her.”

I looked at him, surprised. “You would?”

“Yeah,” he said simply. “I’ll take her. I’ll take care of her.”

Ivy wasted no time leaping into his lap, rubbing her head against his chest as if she had already made her choice.

“Do you even know how to take care of a cat?”

A slight smirk ghosted over his lips. “I’m a fast learner.”

For a moment, there was silence, and it wasn’t unbearable. It was exactly what I needed.

The following days passed in a haze.

Every moment blurred together, slipping through my fingers like sand. I spent every single day with my grandmother, holding her hand, telling her stories about the world outside the sterile walls of the hospital as if my words alone could keep reality at bay.

But nothing could stop the inevitable.

Susan’s body had finally been released after the autopsy, and her funeral was arranged. A grave near my grandfather’s was chosen for her, a quiet resting place beneath a sprawling oak tree.

When the day of the funeral arrived, and I stood before the freshly turned soil, the weight of it crashed over me. She was really gone.

Susan had been brutally taken away.

It didn’t feel real. I didn’t want to believe it .

But the earth had been shoveled, the flowers were lain with careful hands, and the cold emptiness in my chest refused to fade.

I took an extended leave from work, and Linda understood without needing a detailed explanation.

My friends held me up, refusing to let me or my grandmother be alone.

We had beautiful moments together.

Days filled with laughter, shared memories, and quiet comfort. But time was merciless.

Two months after Susan’s funeral, I returned to work, part-time only. Every moment with my grandmother felt more precious than anything else.

Since I’d returned to the clinic, Zane had started showing up almost daily with Ivy. Sometimes, for a check-up, claw trimming, or shots. Or he just came in to ask questions. Everyone knew he wasn’t there for the cat, but no one said anything.

Another month passed.

Winter faded, and spring breathed life back into the city. With it, normalcy returned.

No new murders. No more poisoning cases. The killer had vanished as if swallowed by the air itself. Spencer told me the murderer left a final message, but because of my situation, he didn’t want to tell me details.

Bella Carter checked in a few times, keeping me updated on new leads. Her source needed more time.

But to me, it was all just background noise.

My focus was only on my grandma.

On Sunday in spring, the last traces of winter had disappeared, and golden sunlight streamed through the living room window in warm patches.

Layla, my grandmother, and I sat curled up on the couch, watching a comedy movie.

It was a beautiful day.

No. We’d had many beautiful days. We had done so much together, filling the months with memories so warm and full of love that, for a brief moment, it almost felt like nothing bad could touch us.

But then, as the movie ended, my grandmother turned off the TV and looked at me with a soft, knowing smile.“Amelia, I have something for you.”

Slowly, she stood up and disappeared into her room. A moment later, she returned, carrying a cardboard box.“This is important. Open it when the time is right.”

Layla squeezed my hand. “Must be a surprise,” she whispered with a weak smile.

“When I found out about my condition, I sold my tailor shop to an old friend,” Grandma admitted quietly.

Shock hit me like a lightning bolt .

“I used the money to pay off the house.” She reached into the pocket where she always kept her crochet needles.“I want you to leave this place after I’m gone. Sell it. Start over.”

My throat tightened.

“The funeral is already arranged,” she continued gently. “I’ll be next to your grandfather.”Grandma smiled, but to me, nothing about the situation was sweet.

We had avoided the conversation for so long. But she was saying everything out loud, and it felt so final.

Layla’s grip remained a steadying anchor. Usually, she was emotional, but she stayed strong for me.

“You’ve always been such a good girl,” my grandmother said, her voice full of warmth. “Never asked for much. Always made do. You worked so hard to support us and sacrificed so much.”

Her words burrowed into my heart like embers, burning as they settled.“Grandma…”

“Amelia.” Her green eyes filled with a quiet plea. “Promise me that you’ll live your life.”

I tried to swallow down my grief.

“Promise me.”

I nodded, but it wasn’t enough for her.

“Say it.”

“I promise.”

She smiled, satisfied.“Good.” Clapping her hands, her energy dimmed but was still there. “Now, who wants to watch another movie?”

That night, Layla and I curled up in bed beside my grandmother as she told us a story about my grandfather.

It was a tale I had heard a hundred times before, but it sounded different.

Layla fell asleep first.

When my grandma noticed, she whispered, “I guess it’s time.”

I nodded weakly. “We should get some sleep.”

“That’s right.” Her hand found mine, squeezing it gently.“I love you, Amelia. Sleep well.”

I guided her hand to my lips and kissed her palm gently.“I love you too, Grandma.”

I nestled closer against her side, listening to the slow, steady rhythm of her breathing.

And then, I fell asleep.

The morning light was harsh as I blinked awake, stretching slightly.

I froze.

My grandmother lay still. Too still. A cold shock of ice rushed through my veins. I reached for her, my fingers brushing her hand. Her once warm skin was cold.

“Grandma?” I shook her shoulder gently.

No response.

“Grandma!” My voice cracked, rising in desperation.

Layla stirred beside me, blinking groggily before waking fully with a jolt. Her eyes darted between me and my grandmother.

Hesitantly, she pressed two fingers to her neck.

Seconds passed, and she shook her head.

My world stopped.

“Amelia.” Tears streamed down Layla’s face. “She—”

“Don’t say it.” My entire body trembled. “Please, don’t… say it.”

Layla pulled me into her arms.“She’s gone.”

Death came suddenly.

No matter what people say or how much time we may have, it still hits like a crashing wave, relentless and unforgiving.

The days blurred together. Voices murmured condolences as I stood by my grandma’s grave, but I barely registered them. Time passed, but I had no sense of it. I didn’t even know how I was still functioning.

But I knew one thing.

I was present.

The funeral was over. People had come to pay their respects. Friends, acquaintances, even Zane and his family. But it was all background noise, distant and unimportant because a part of me had been buried with her.

Slowly, the cemetery emptied. My friends, unwilling to leave me alone, hesitated by my side. I asked them to go, and one by one, they left. Until only I remained.

My gaze stayed fixed on the freshly turned soil.

After an immeasurable amount of time, I placed roses on my grandmother’s and grandfather’s graves. Another rose went on Susan’s grave, and finally, I walked toward my parents’ resting place, laying roses there as well.

The sky above was crystal clear, and the sun shone brightly, casting warm golden rays on my skin. It was peaceful and serene.

My legs moved on their own, guiding me through the cemetery, lost in thought.

“Amelia?”a voice I didn’t recognize called.

I turned around to face a man who stood near a gravestone. Deep lines creased his weathered face, and his white hair was neatly trimmed. He was tall, and his shadow stretched over me as he took a step closer.

“It is you, isn’t it?”

I blinked as recognition dawned.

“Mr. Watson?”

He nodded, offering me a small, gentle smile. “It’s been a long time.”

“It has.”

His gaze drifted over the cemetery thoughtfully. “Not the best place for a reunion, I suppose. But still, I’m glad to see you.”

There was something about his words that felt… fated.

“Have you kept up with the piano?” His eyes gleamed with curiosity.

I shook my head. “I became a veterinary assistant.”

“That’s a shame. I mean… It’s a shame you stopped playing. I always thought you had the makings of a great pianist.”

I shrugged. “I don’t regret it.”

Silence stretched between us before he finally spoke again, “I left school because I lost my daughter,” he admitted, nodding toward a gravestone. “Her life was cut short. You remind me of her. She was also your age.”

A photograph of a young girl, no older than seven, was embedded in the stone.

“Death comes so suddenly,” he murmured.

I nodded.

Yes. It did.

Mr. Watson’s gaze remained locked on the grave.“You’re never ready for it.” His voice was calm, but a heavy emotion flickered in his eyes.“I left town after she passed, but I always come back. For her.”

His expression darkened. “My ex-wife.”

I followed his gaze, and the name on the gravestone made my stomach clench.

“I only arrived this morning. I didn’t even know she was gone until yesterday.” A hollow breath left his lips.“She called me last week… and now, she’s dead.”

The weight of his words settled between us. His fingers traced the inscription slowly, searching for something beneath the smooth stone.

“Death is merciless.”

I nodded again.

Yes. It was.

“But sometimes, perhaps, it offers something else. A new beginning. A new purpose.”

A new beginning. I wasn’t sure if I could believe that. Not at the moment.

“Sometimes, it’s what pushes us forward. Or it breaks us completely.”

Without another word, he sank to the ground beside his daughter’s grave. His fingers trailed over the stone.

He didn’t look lost or angry.Just… tired. Worn down by everything life had taken from him.

“Death can be terrifying.”

Yes. I knew that fear. I could feel it crushing, suffocating, and threatening to pull me under.

I took a step back. “My deepest condolences, Mr. Watson.”

He nodded in a silent acknowledgment.

I turned and walked away.

Each step felt heavier than the last. But as I left the cemetery, one thought remained. A purpose, a new beginning. Do I have the courage?

“Amelia.”

A car was parked near the gate, and Spencer stood beside it, holding a bouquet of white flowers.“My deepest condolences. ”

He held out the flowers, and my fingers trembled as I accepted them, even as warmth radiated in my chest at his small gesture.

“Thank you.”

Spencer had checked in on me throughout the past few months, quietly offering support. He had become an anchor, a friend, someone who was simply there.

“I’ll take you home.”

I nodded weakly and let him drive me away.