The Last of Us

C H A P T E R E I G H T

(A/N:

For this part when Adrian plays the piano, I want you guys to listen to this: Victor's Piano Solo - Danny Elfman — Corpse Bride (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

And songs for the chapter:
• At My Best (feat. Hailee Steinfeld) -Machine Gun Kelly
• She Will Be Loved - Maroon 5

Thank you!)

-

Adrian

The next day, it's Friday and father wakes me up early in the morning to play the piano for him. He almost sees Plagg who laid on my massive bed beside me, but I relax when Plagg hides under the bed as quickly as possible before father saw him.

"Adrian, play the piano for me." Father says first thing when he walks into my room and Natalie follows behind him. I was still in my pyjamas. I pick up my phone from my nightstand and check the time. Six thirty in the morning.

"I will. I just need to go ch-"

"No need. I need to know you're practicing your piano. I need to know how you do when you wake up first thing in the morning when I need you to play the piano." Father says before he takes a seat on the sofa and watches me.

I nod before I throw off the blanket off of me. I swing my legs to the end of the bed before I stand up and walk toward the piano. I sit in front of the grand black slick piano before I delicately touch my fingers on the black and white keys.

I press the first key and I begin playing. The sound makes my father close his eyes and bow his head forward as he listens to the sound. I close my eyes too as I feel the music in my heart.

I know that father let me practice this piece because it though of him of mother. I know he spends most of his days alone and he wants to. I can't make him go out because he's stubborn, strict and overprotective.

I know I can't press the wrong key. I know I can't mess this up, or I'll have to play it over and over again for father until I get it right.

The last time I pressed a wrong key, father let me stay home and practice the piano over and over again till he came into my room to play it for him again. And that day I missed my friends concert. Father said that my friends made me unfocused. That wasn't true, it was him making me feel versus and uncomfortable.

I let my fingers glide over the keys before pressing them. I know where the keys are and what to press them to make the sounds come to father's heart.

But as soon as I opened my eyes, I press a wrong key making me stop my fingers on top of the other keys. Father raises his hands for me to stop even though I already have.

I close my eyes as I know the failure I am. I wait anxiously for his judging on my piano skills.

"Go down and have breakfast. Go straight to school and don't run off like you did yesterday." Father says flatly. The disappointment clear in his voice

With that, father stands up from the sofa and walks toward the door. Natalie follows close behind and closes the door behind her. I sit there with my head hanging forward with shame.

"Adrian, are you okay?" Plagg softly asks as he rests on my shoulder. I turn my head slightly away from him.

"I'm fine, Plagg." I reply.

It's silent for a while as I continue to sit there with my head bowed. I don't think I'll ever be enough for father, I thought. I don't think I'll ever fill the void in his heart and I don't think he'll ever fill mine.