The night had slowed down after dinner, though laughter still echoed faintly from the kitchen. Dishes were left in a lazy stack by the sink. No one rushed to clean. No one wanted to break the calm.
Kesher sat on a small stool, guitar resting on his knee. His fingers gently picked at the strings, each note like a drop of rain on glass. He wasn't trying to show off. It was just how he spoke when words weren't enough. Everyone had gathered around without needing to be asked. The lights were low, the windows cracked open to let the cool night in, and the silence between songs felt just as important as the music.
Ash sat on the couch, legs pulled up under him, his body tired but finally at peace. His eyes were half closed as he listened. Valhalla had taken the spot next to him, one arm stretched out across the backrest, eyes scanning the room like he was watching over everyone even now. Jack was sprawled on the floor, legs crossed, chewing on a piece of candy someone had brought. Atlas leaned against the wall, arms folded, still glowing a little with the warmth of his earlier talk with Ash.
Ken was pacing behind the couch, clearly nervous about something. He kept glancing at Nero, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor, close enough to Kesher to see the patterns on the guitar. Ken opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. He looked like he was about to explode.
Kesher glanced up once, locking eyes with Ash, then down at his guitar. He spoke quietly. "Alright. I'll sing one."
The room fell still. No one spoke. His voice came soft at first, like the first words spoken after a long silence.
"Blue light on the floor
Buzzin' from the hall again
I forgot what I was lookin' for
So I just stay in
T-shirt on the chair
Still smells like someone I knew
I don't ask why it's there
I just let it be true..."
"And the trees bend down like they're prayin'
And the wind hums a song I forgot
And I thought I was fine just waitin'
But I wait more than I thought"
His fingers danced over the strings, soft and slow.
"My phone's dead in the kitchen
I keep hearin' it ring
I don't care enough to check it
Or maybe that's the thing
There's a dog barkin' somewhere
I hum along to the sound
It don't mean nothin'
But I write it down"
"And the clouds roll slow like they're thinkin'
And the sky's got nothin' to prove
And I thought I was done with dreamin'
But I still can't move"
The room had gone still. Nero stopped mid-laugh and leaned back on her hands, her face soft with something she wasn't saying. Ken watched the floor, a strange mix of admiration and jealousy in his face—like he wished he could make something that true. Rin had his knees tucked up to his chest and was swaying slightly, lost in the rhythm. Jack had stopped eating snacks. Even Valhalla wasn't smirking.
"I don't miss you
I just miss the idea
Of someone who maybe
Would've stayed near..."
Ash's hand curled slightly against the couch. Not in tension. Just in feeling.
"Blue light on the floor
Flickers like it knows my name
I don't need much more
Then just stayin' the same..."
Kesher let the last notes fade, not cutting them off. Letting them disappear naturally, the way fire becomes smoke. He didn't look up. He just sat there for a while, hands quiet on the guitar.
The room was silent in the best way possible. The kind of silence that feels earned, not empty.
Ash cleared his throat. "That was... really good."
Kesher shrugged. "Wrote it a long time ago. Changed a few things."
Rin and Valhalla both clapped their hands while Nero patted Kesher's back. Jack just raised his hands in a thumbs-up.
Atlas spoke to Kesher. "Man, I'd love to learn how to play guitar to impress her..."
Ken let out a low breath. "Goddamn. That was beautiful."
"Alright, enough of that sad poet vibe," he blurted out, suddenly louder than he meant to be. Everyone turned. He scratched the back of his neck, then cleared his throat. "I uh... I wrote something too."
Nero looked up at him, amused.
Ken pulled out a crumpled notebook page from his hoodie pocket. He looked at it like it was about to bite him, then started reading. "Roses are red, violets are blue. I saw a rat in the kitchen, and it looked better than you."
There was a moment of silence, then Nero burst out laughing, followed by everyone else. Kesher even dropped a note from his guitar because he was laughing too hard. Ken bowed dramatically. "Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week."
He sat down beside Nero, trying to play it cool, though his ears had gone bright red. She nudged his shoulder lightly, still smiling.
Valhalla stood up and stretched. "Alright, alright, I'm calling next. Who wants to hear the story of how I once stole a crown from a mountain king without spilling a single drop of blood?"
"No one," Jack said from the floor without looking up.
"Too bad," Valhalla grinned, and before anyone could stop him, he launched into a tale full of dragons that weren't really dragons, kings who were actually trees, and how he ended up marrying someone by accident.
Ash wasn't sure how much of the story was true, but it didn't matter. The way Valhalla told it, you almost believed it could've happened. Maybe that's what made a good story in the end—not whether it was real, but whether it made you wish it was.
When Valhalla was done, they all clapped like kids who'd just seen a magic trick. Someone had found snacks again, and they were passing them around. The cake Kesher had baked sat quietly on the table, waiting. No one wanted to eat it yet. They were still full from the food and full from the moment. No rush.
Atlas walked over to Ash with two cans of something fizzy and handed him one. "You doing okay?"
Ash nodded. "Yeah. I am. I didn't think I'd make it to see this."
Atlas raised his can. "To you, brother."
Ash raised his too. "To being here."
They clinked cans softly, the sound small but perfect.
Kesher began playing again. This time, it was softer. A lullaby almost. No words. Just gentle music, like something floating down a river. The room didn't go silent, but everyone lowered their voices, leaning in, resting their weight into cushions or friends or laughter that no longer needed to be loud.
Nero had pulled out her phone and was showing something to Rin and Jack.
Ken was quiet now, just sitting with them. The clock ticked somewhere in the background. Not that anyone cared.