Tight headphones are secured onto my head, as music blasts through my ears…

I hummed along to the melody, trying to forget what this day means and what this day has brought me...

Yet, it's weird… Here I'm blasting 'happiest year' by jaymes Young, but I'm wallowing in my own misery....

I guess you could say it's unusual, but there's a reason for everything right?...

One year ago today my best friend died… Her favorite thing was listening to music...

Sometimes she'd rather listen to her music than listen to me.

Though I didn't mind it... That was her way with coping with everything. It wasn't until she was gone that I realized what music meant to her.

Music was her only escape from the harsh world around her... It was her way of dealing with all the pain and anguish she was enduring...

Music meant much more to her than just her listening to her favorite Songs.....

Her last words to me before she left forever was that she hoped the afterlife was as peaceful as music....

Now, I didn't think much of what she meant until after I got a call from my second mother - her mom telling me that my best friend took her life......

I suppose that's why I started listening to music in the first place to find what she did, the tranquility it brought to her..

So here I was on the top of this hill playing this song on repeat while gazing down at the Hollywood sign and the lights of Los Angeles....

Can't deny it was a beautiful distraction from reality.

The lights seemed to brighten up the dull reality that surrounded me. Not to mention the stunning sunset which was disappearing as it grew darker by the second...

Just as I was about to check the time I felt nudge on my left shoulder. I looked at the left raising my eyebrows when I found a girl around my age--- probably seventeen...

I took out one of my headphones and adjusted the volume so that I could hear what the girl next to me was saying.

"Yes?" I asked, my voice was weak and scratchy, no doubt from all the tears I've shed today...

"What song are you listening to?" she questioned, her finger pointing at my phone...

I turned on my phone and showed her the monotonous song that kept repeating in my ears. She offered me a warm smile as she scanned the title.

"I'm listening to 'here' by Alessia Cara," she spoke.

I didn't said anything in response to her song choice just nodded....

Only when she slipped a strand of her hairs behind her ears did I notice the wireless air-pod she had inserted into her ear. I guess that made sense why I didn't see her wires connected to her phone as mine were.

"I'm moon" she added.

to be continued ~

Her name kind of resemble her I thought that....She was beautiful just like the moon...

Even though I wanted space I didn't wanted to be impolite so, I told her my name. "Ryan."

"So what brought you to this vantage point, looking down on the city?" Moon interrogated, both curious and persistent....

I took out my headphones and placed them on the ground next to me, knowing that I wouldn't have any more time to myself. If she wanted to talk, I would keep her company....

It also worked in my benefit. That way it might be another source of distraction; after all a view can only be enjoyed for so long... After that I turned to Moon and established direct eye contact with her.

In response to her question, I just shrugged my shoulders

"I'm just looking for some peace, you?"

"I was wandering away from home, or to be more precise, a house party. I didn't liked the music they were playing."

She laughed, and a faint smile appeared on my face....

This is the first time I've smiled today...

"So I walked out of my house, plugged in my music that made me feel at ease, you know?" Moon continued prompting me to agree.

I knew exactly what she meant when she said she wanted music that understood her and made her feel valued...

"Yeah," I trailed off. "Music has the ability to do that to you, just as it has the ability to make me want to find serenity." I spoke my thoughts aloud....

When I snapped out of my trance, Moon was watching me with curious eyes. It was almost as if she was studying me, trying to understand me...

"When I first saw you, you looked sad and as if you needed space something told me to talk to you so here I am," she concluded a smile spreading on her face.

"I'm nosy but not pushy; do you want to talk about it?"

She asked cautiously, like if treading on eggshells.

My mother has been trying for a year to pursued me to see a therapist and tell them how I feel. I never tried counselling because I didn't think it could help me.

However, perhaps telling a stranger everything and then never speaking to them again will be good for me. At the very least I know they can pass judgement on me without having to see me again.

"My best friend passed away a year ago today. Today has been rough, but I'm getting through it with the help of music." I came to a halt for a moment attempting to take a deep breath.

"My best friend adored music, in fact she loved music more than she loved me ... She was able to get through anything with the help of music.... That's probably my way of paying tribute to her, perhaps even attempting to see what she saw in music." I concluded.

to be continued ~

Although I told Moon the short story of this past year, it made me feel better. I guess an ear rather than advice was what I needed.

Moon hummed slowly as if she was thinking. But it didn't bother me. I enjoyed the silence; it was comforting, welcoming even...

Moon nudged me again, and I locked my gaze on her.

She gave a kind smile and said, "You know she is speaking to you through the music you will find your peace soon."

Her response made me smile. My second smile of the day, something my family couldn't even manage to do.

Not wanting to talk about my situation anymore I returned to the question, now curious as to how she ended up here.

"What about you?" "What brings you here?" I questioned.

Moon gave me a sidelong glance.

"I'm not a big fan of outgoing people, they make me feel as if I have to be someone I'm not... I listen to music because it's my own world, I get to create and control what I do..."

Her response caused me to think and think deeply. We each had separate but kinda similar reasons for being here, and for why music is so important to us...

We shared a lot of similarities and I think that for the first time in a long time, a new warmth flowed over my body ...

I poked moon in the same way she usually nudged me.

"You are not so bad after all; I suppose I finally found someone who understands me." With a tiny laugh I told her.

Moon looked at me and playfully rolled her eyes.

"Not going to lie you are gorgeous Moon just like the moon." I told her ...

After I completed my very recent sentence she stared at me. I think she is uncomfortable that's what I thought...

But to my surprise she said, "Can you tell me something new? I heard this so many times that it doesn't feel like I'm actually gorgeous anymore."

She is gorgeous, so I guess it's normal that people call her gorgeous, but I can understand after hearing it a lot of times she must be thinking I'm also saying this like other's...

"You are gorgeous in side also that's what I meant." I said this to her to correct her misunderstanding and yes I didn't lie after speaking to her for sometimes I can really say that she has a good heart.

"You just knew me today that too not long ago how are you so sure about that?" She asked with curiosity mixed in her voice.

I chuckled. I don't know, but she really looked cute like this...

I said to her, "So you are implying you don't have a good heart?" and gazed at her for answer.

"I mean no i- mean I didn't mean that don't misunderstand-" she was panicked while explaining.

to be continued ~