“Is that a piano?”

I blinked and glanced at my friend, Molly. She was standing in the sand, her gaze transfixed on an object in front of her. I peered in that direction.

“Um, I don’t know…” I trailed off as we got closer. It was a piano. An old, wooden grand piano. I walked up to it and ran my hand across its side.

The side panels were beautifully carved, with an intricate design of swirling branches. I was really confused. Molly and I walked on the beach every day and I knew this piano had never been here before, on any of those occasions.

A single note echoed into the air.

I looked over to see Molly running her fingers across the keys. The thing actually worked? Molly began to play a scale before moving into a complete tune.

It was beautiful. I had never been much of a musician or been interested in music before. But something about the notes this piano emitted…It felt magical.

I rested my hand on the edge of the piano as I watched my friend play. She had told me the other day that she wished she still had her keyboard. She had to sell it to help pay her sister’s medical bills.

I had not seen Molly smile lately. But a grin was slowly appearing as she played. Magical. I felt my body slowly relax. I closed my eyes and let the notes wash over me. Happiness began to flood my body.

I do not know how long we stood there, Molly playing and me enjoying my first genuine musical performance.

“I’m sorry, Molly,” I said with regret, after a while. “We have to leave now.”

Molly sighed back. “I know,” she said, wistfully running her hand across the keys once more.

We turned to leave and walked away.

“Just one more song,” Molly said abruptly. She spun around and gasped.

I turned around too. My jaw dropped open. The piano was gone.