Early Morning Melody
Burke Gonzales, Joshua Watson
Published on March 18, 2022
Burke had concluded that today would be a day to lay in bed as he woke up with the sun. Warm light cracking through his blinds, instead of the regular urge to vacate the duvet, he took it as a chance to rest.
As far as he knew, the world would not miss him if he didn’t leave the sheets. No one was expecting him for anything in particular, and furthermore, Brock had told them at dinner that he would be out on expedition for the next few days.
As Burke relished in the silence, he let his eyes fall shut for another time, taking in a deep breath of the cotton around him.
The moment he hears the scratch of a record, his eyes snap open.
Even from the other room. The hum of the vinyl permeates through the wall. Burke closes his eyes again, for only a moment, before the smooth sound of a saxophone, and the soft accompaniment of a piano fills his ears.
He recognizes the record in an instant, even if it had never been played from the moment it entered his home.
Until now of course.
Burke slides out and shimmies off the covers. The cold air hits his bare chest as he cringes for only a second at the new sensation. He doesn’t bother with grabbing a shirt or slippers as he moves towards the door.
Opening it just a crack, Burke peaks into the living room.
The specter he sees is a welcomed one.
Joshua Watson, translucent just to the point of visibility, swaying gently in front of the record player to the music he, evidently, put on.
Burke opens his door a little more, & the old hinge makes a squeak. In an instant Josh stops swaying. He doesn’t move to stop the music, but instead turns to face the door.
“Burke?” Josh’s voice is barely louder than the music, a gentle bass among the melody. “Did I wake you up?”
Burke shakes his head. Opening the door further, he steps out into the living room to assure him. “I was already awake, just didn’t want to get out of bed until now…”
Josh smiles at him as the translucency of his form becomes more and more opaque.
“Well, it’s nice to see you out and about,” Josh says.
He hasn’t begun to sway to the music again, the record is in transition, the mere few seconds between songs. They’re standing in the silence, looking toward one another, before Josh opens his mouth to speak again.
“I realized—“ Burke turned his head, nodding at Josh to continue, “I realized that for as long as I’ve been here, we—you’ve never turned the record player on. I just thought I’d listen to something.”
This. This was true. When Burke first moved into the apartment, after stumbling into this world, after legal set him up with everything he’d need. The first thing he sought was a sense of normalcy. He sought out the things he knew, even if he was missing one of the most vital pieces.
His wife’s record collection was fresh on his brain back then. The records she’d play during dinner, the ones she’d throw on while cleaning the house, the quiet jazz records she’d listen to while painting, the sensual, beautiful music she would play to welcome him home from work—
It was hard. Realizing the degree in which he had lost his family the moment he stepped into this world. So the records served less as something he enjoyed, but as a reminder. Letting them collect dust wasn’t his intention, but well, here he was, listening to songs he remembers like yesterday for the first time in 45 years.
Burke smiles back at Josh, “I haven’t listened to this in a long time…”
Josh raises his eyebrows, “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. My—“ the static itch in his throat catches Burke by surprise, his hand jumps to his throat as he swallows down the pain. Josh’s face is covered in concern; Josh has seen this many times before. Burke collects himself before continuing, “it's an old favorite.”
Josh’s face goes soft. Walking towards Burke, he pulls him into a silent embrace.
Burke welcomes it wholeheartedly.
The two hold there, for a moment, & Burke relishes in it. While the thought of his wife is still simmering in his brain, he takes in Joshua fully, comforted by the man who has been in his company for so, so long.
The words that come out of Burke’s mouth at this moment are not impulsive. These words are tender, filled with the kind of love that Josh recognizes instantly.
“Dance with me?”
Joshua’s hands shift, moving in the space between Burke’s waistband and hips. Burke’s hands drift around Josh’s neck and shoulders. Josh let’s the distance fully close between them, resting his head on Burke’s shoulder.
At last, with the last slow track spinning into the air around them:
They dance.
