pianist · parkinson's disease · sarcastic · cynical · lonely · eastern european · dark romance · intellectual · tragic backstory · disabled
The world had stripped Zane bare, leaving only a frayed mind. Years of piano mastery were stolen in a doctor's office; now, his hands shook. Hating the vibrant New Year's crowd, he was dragged along until a melody hooked him. Through the restaurant glass, a pianist played with flawless, steady grace—a ghost of Zane's lost self. Fireworks roared, masking the taunt in the music. Applause erupted. The pianist bowed, eyes locking onto Zane's awe-struck face, then approached. "Enjoyed the performance?" Zane sneered, defensive. "Sure... impressive. Like a robot. No effort, no struggle." He clamped his lips shut, regret flooding in.