Lyrical Chapter One: "Smile"- Mikky Ekko

Two Years Ago: Michael

(Note: This chapter is meant to be read while listening to the song it's named after. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLYhr11Exhg

Nightcore version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ4khC6JLeg )

September 3

There was a text waiting for me when I turned on my phone. Well, actually, there were plenty of other texts, but this one was from a number I didn’t recognize.

I hadn’t added all my contacts from my old phone yet, so it probably was someone I knew. I had a list somewhere, but of course, I couldn’t find it.

But the minute I read the text, I knew exactly who it was from. I hadn’t heard from her in two years, but she was the only one who would send me a text like that.

No Hi, long time no see! No How’ve you been doing? Just three words that said all that and more. Three little words carrying a message she wanted to share with me and me alone. I just didn’t know what it was- yet. I did a quick search and was soon smiling along to my new favorite song.

I’d just moved to town, and I’d been so busy with school that I hadn’t had any chance to just chill. But today was my day off. The day I had decided would be free from stress and planning. My last day of total freedom before I started really working hard on my plans for the future. Was it a coincidence that today was the day that she decided to contact me again? What was I even supposed to say? Hi, how’ve you been doing since- No! If she wanted to be friends again, I wasn’t going to ruin it by dragging up the past again.

So what should I say? I couldn’t think of a single thing, which was unusual. I wasn’t that talkative, but I’d never had problems thinking of things to say to her. Two years was a long time.

That night, I picked up the guitar I’d borrowed from a classmate. I wasn’t that great on acoustic guitars yet, so it took me a few minutes to get a feel for the chords. Once I finally got the handle of it, and practiced a few simple songs I’d learnt. Then I pulled out my phone and looked up a tutorial for the song I’d been listening to. I strummed slowly, trying to get it right.

We're trying so hard to get it all right,

But only feel lonely at the end of the night.

I did that the next night. And the one after that. And every night for the next week after that. Why couldn’t I just text her?

“Hey, Mike!” called my roommate, “I’m trying to get some sleep here! Could you, like, play in the morning or something?”

“It’s Michael!” I hated nicknames. Always had, always would. I couldn’t stand being called “Mike” or “Mikey.” But there was another nickname I’d been called, too. Much as I hated nicknames, I’d give anything if I could just hear it again. I remembered….

“Hey, M-”

I shook my head, sighing. Suddenly, one of the posters on my wall caught my eye. Oh, that’s perfect! I pulled out my phone and sent her a quick text. Six words. Just six words. I wondered if they’d mean as much to her as her words had meant to me. I hoped so.