PHOTO PROMPT © Jan W. Fields
He sat at the piano, but didn’t play. His fingers caressed the keys, but he knew better than to press down. A beautiful melody he didn’t dare let his ears hear danced through his head.
Bad things happened every time he played. For too long he played off the misfortunes in his life as coincidence. Eventually, he realized the truth. Too many lives had already been lost to risk another touch of those haunted keys. Every single time he pressed one of those forsaken keys someone died.
“Play me something,” a voice–his wife’s–said from somewhere behind him.
“Never.”
—
Not sure why but I immediately thought of the song Piano Man by Billy Joel when I saw the photo. Love that song, but being me I had to put a darker spin on the whole thing.
Written for Friday Fictioneers.
Click here to read stories from the other Fictioneers.
Adam Ickes 
January 20th, 2016 at 10:27 PM
Good narration and the haunted piano haunts without making it creepy. Good one.
January 21st, 2016 at 8:46 AM
Thanks.
January 21st, 2016 at 12:41 AM
A good ghost story, Adam. Thanks for the film clip. I love that song. 🙂 — Suzanne
January 21st, 2016 at 8:47 AM
Thanks, Suzanne. Had to share the music just to get it out of my head.
January 21st, 2016 at 4:23 AM
That’s a great song to go with a great story.
January 21st, 2016 at 8:48 AM
Many thanks.
January 21st, 2016 at 6:37 AM
Dear Adam,
I think it’s time to trade in the old piano. Good story.
Ever notice how some songs are flash fictions in themselves? Piano Man is definitely one of those. Thanks for sharing that.
Shalom,
Rochelle
January 21st, 2016 at 8:50 AM
That’s very true, Rochelle. I never thought about it like that before, but you’re right.
January 22nd, 2016 at 4:59 AM
Creepy piano. Maybe he should trade it in for an electronic keyboard instead. I get the feeling one day he’s going to hit those haunted keys again.
January 22nd, 2016 at 6:48 PM
Great story. He better learn to play guitar…
January 22nd, 2016 at 7:34 PM
The temptation is too great. He must destroy it!
January 23rd, 2016 at 6:23 AM
Well, at least he must love his wife. Oh, how about one little song?
January 25th, 2016 at 3:38 AM
A very inventive take and most enjoyable. I hope his determination holds.
January 25th, 2016 at 4:10 AM
A haunting story!