Play the Game ~ R O G E R T A Y L O R ~

7

The next few days after were filled with confusion.

I got a call from my dad.

Just another monthly reminder that he never wanted to see me again because he couldn't ever "bare to see my face after what [he] did."

All he said was that he missed me and that he was sorry for what he did, just as he always does.

I shut my eyes and tried to forget, but I always remember.

2 Years Ago *Trigger Warning*

He threw me onto the bed, covering my mouth. I kicked and scratched at him, trying to release from his grasp. He grabbed the bag of drugs from the side of the table and shoved some into my mouth. I ended up passing out before I could do anything else. I felt pain in my lower region.

Then darkness.

——————

I started to cry once again, mostly because of the memory, but more because I actually started to forgive my father for what he did. He didn't deserve forgiveness, but here we are.

I put my back up against the wall and rubbed my hands on my face. Mirina was out for the day, so I had the house to myself. The band wasn't coming over today, seen as it was a Saturday. I walked to the couch and sat down, thinking of something to do. I could watch the new television box we got.

There wasn't much playing at this time. Maybe some I Love Lucy, but I wasn't in the mood.

I grabbed the Queen II vinyl I got the day before and placed it under the needle of my record player. I listened to the first few songs.

"Eerie." I thought to myself.

Then I came across one that made me feel very confident and powerful, in a way. I looked on the back of the case.

"Ogre Battle." I said out loud.

It was very much a hard rock and roll song, mixed with a bit of folk.

I was now dancing around the living room, playing the air guitar and sliding around the warm toned wooden floor in my fuzzy socks. The last part honestly shocked me.

"Come to ogre battle!
Ah ah ah ah AH!"

Those high notes were glorious. I couldn't tell who was singing it though. Freddie? Roger? John?

Hell, even Brian.

The next song began to play, and I sat down to listen. I was extremely startled to see 4 figures standing in the glass panes around my door once I looked over my shoulder. I knew exactly who it was.

I walked up to the door and rolled my eyes before I opened it.

"Hey guys. Why are y'all here? It's Saturday."

They were all gawking at me.

I looked myself up and down. "I'm fully clothed so it can't be th-." I stopped myself mid sentence, then looked down.

"...you guys didn't see me dancing, did you?"

There was silence, then they all busted out laughing. John even said that he was going to pee himself and ran to the bathroom upstairs.

"So I'll take that as a yes." I said, and crossed my arms. As they wiped their tears, they nodded.

Freddie cleared his throat.

"Though seeing you thrash around to Ogre Battle was an experience, we want to take you to take us out on the town. There's a festival today that you should take us to. We want the full Louisiana cultural experience."

I laughed.

"Oh for God's sake, what?" Freddie said, exasperated.

"You want me to take you everywhere? Wow, what a gentleman you are." I rolled my eyes.

"Come on, Grace! It'll be fun! You've been cooped up in your flat for ages." Brian chimed in.

I looked at the ground.

"Fine. But only because Mirina is out. Let me go change. Come in."

The boys walked inside and sat down on the couch. The Queen album was still playing in the back as I walked up the stairs. I could hear them singing the song that was playing and I smiled.

I looked through my drawers for a good 10 minutes until I settled on a sundress that was light, dusty pink, with some sandals. Plus, the dress had pockets, so I could carry my money and purchases with me. I walked downstairs to greet the boys once more, and they were all on their feet now, dancing around to the song that I think was named Seven Seas of Rhye, if I remember correctly what was on the back of the album.

A new part of the song comes on where the notes are going up gradually.

"You are mine, I possess you, belong to you forever."

The word 'forever' is repeated until Roger bursts out with a extremely high falsetto that echoed throughout the house. My mouth dropped open as I stood on the stairs and stared at the boys. They all laughed, then turned in my direction.

My eyes were wide.

I stepped down a few steps until I was at the bottom of the stairs.

I slowly walked towards the couch until Roger randomly tackled me onto it, probably out of embarrassment, (I honestly didn't know his motive) with Freddie, Brian, and John, who just recently came back from the bathroom, all piling on top of each other in front of the couch. I looked at Roger.

"That was YOU who hit those notes?"

He moved his hair out of his face with his hand.

"Well I don't mean to brag, but my special talent is sounding like a girl."

I laughed, then pushed him off of me.

"Are we all ready to go?" John said as he got up from the pile he was in with the boys.

"Yes." We all said in unison.

"Alright. Then let's hit the road. Lead the way, Grace." Roger said as he sat in the shotgun seat of my car.

Right next to me.