My Way Home — Another Story of Meloriel Lumina ——

[Intro — Female Solo, Intimate, Sparse Felt Piano, Gentle Swing] A log slipped from the fire I couldn’t sleep, so I sat up I pulled the blanket round my shoulders Still cold, I reached into my bag One fold, and then another The scent of dried herbs I opened up the final crease [Brief Instrumental Silence] Your handwriting was inside [Male Solo — Elio, Soft Youthful Voice, Plain and Unadorned] In case you get a fever It gets cold at night Try to stay warm If you run out I can make more …Always [Female Solo — Verse 1, Gentle Chamber Swing] The wind was strong that morning My shawl kept falling in my eyes You placed the packet in my hands And all I said was “Thank you” Our fingers almost touched I pulled away too soon Then bent to tie my laces Though neither one was loose You waited there beside me Until I stood again [Pre-Chorus — Female, Fragile and Restrained] I said goodbye and turned away Then looked back one more time You seemed about to say something But the wind took half the words [Chorus — Female, Luminous Emo, Tear-Smiling, Gentle Melodic Lift] This feeling doesn’t know its name I still see you folding paper When morning comes in some far town I wonder if you’re up yet This feeling doesn’t know its name I want to see you smile again I almost turned around that morning But kept on walking anyway [Verse 2 — Female, Close-Miked, Conversational] Your letters leaned a little right I traced the final line A tear fell across the ink And blurred the last few words “I’m sorry, Elio” I wiped it with my sleeve And made it worse I waited till the paper dried Then folded it like you had One fold, and then another Each crease back where it was I tucked it by the crystal I wore against my heart Put another log upon the fire And tried to sleep again [Instrumental Interlude — Warm Rhodes, Upright Bass, Flute, Brushed Chamber Swing] [Verse 3 — Female, Playful Bittersweet Swing] Rain and snow and unfamiliar towns Songs I’d never heard before A child was crying by a bridge I lent her my old shawl She sang a funny little tune I tried to sing it back I got the melody all wrong And she laughed till I laughed too Next town, another rainy day I sang it underneath the eaves Still missing half the notes And walking on again [Chorus 2 — Female, Warm and Buoyant, Luminous Melancholy] How many songs have I learned since then? How many towns have come and gone? I never opened up that paper Just felt its folds beneath my thumb Someone’s singing down the road A tune I haven’t heard I stop and listen for a while Then carry on again [Instrumental Break — Flute and Clarinet, Subtle Acid Jazz Harmony] [Final Verse — Female, Sparse Piano, Rain-Washed Herbal Clinic] The rain had stopped in a little town Dried herbs hung by the window Outside the door of your old clinic I bent to tie my laces again They weren’t loose I opened up the door and saw you Your hands stopped cutting herbs A little older than I remembered You stood there looking back at me [Instrumental Pause — Suspended Piano Chord] You pulled a chair out without speaking Took one cup down from the shelf Then took another, set it beside mine And put the kettle on [Final Refrain — Female, Intimate, Almost Spoken, No Belting] “Your medicine worked.” You reached for the kettle And warmed my tea I took a little sip [Brief Silence] The tea tasted a little salty [Soft Instrumental Breath] I took another sip [Outro — Female Inner Monologue, Breath-Close Whisper] Hey, Elio… I want to come back tomorrow [Silence — Spoon Touching Porcelain] [Soft Spoon Click] [Final Whisper — Female Solo, Barely Audible] …I’m home [Instrumental Outro — Quiet Felt Piano and Flute, Warm Maj9 Resolution, No Further Vocals]