Not casually.
Not out of curiosity.
He looked at it like someone staring through a window at a life they once loved… and lost.
All evening, he had been gathering courage.
And finally, when the voices near the piano softened, he stepped forward.
A tall man in a navy suit stood nearby, surrounded by guests. Confident. Respected. The kind of man people listened to.
Daniel swallowed.
“Can I play this piano?” he asked softly.
The conversation stopped instantly.
The man looked at him… then at his uniform.
A smirk formed.
“You?” he said, loud enough for others to hear. “Have you ever even touched a piano?”
A few people laughed.
Not cruelly.
Just comfortably.
As if the answer was obvious.