Emily tip-toed down the stairs and across the old wooden floor, creeping her way toward the back of the room. Reaching the bench, she sat herself down with a sigh. The Ball & Socket had closed for the night, but it was always opened to her. After learning of her love for piano, Bonejangles gave her a key for her to enter and play whenever she wanted. She'd taken him up on that offer almost every night since, except for the last seven nights. A whole week had passed since she said goodbye to Victor. She was set free from her curse, and he was with the one he truly loved, but she didn't feel any different like she thought she would. If anything, she felt worse than before she met him.

"Why is love so difficult?" She groaned, pounding her fist down upon the well-worn keys.

She hung her head in remorse the following moment, sighing heavier than before. She was not usually one to feel sorry for herself, but her story did not have all that happy of an ending.

"I should be used to being alone by now." She whispered, glancing to her bony, naked finger where Victor's ring once was.

Instinctively turning to music in her grief, she absentmindedly began to play a melancholy tune. The empty pub was filled with a sad melody as she poured out her emotions with every note. Before she knew it, her thoughts drifted to the night Victor found her there, doing the very same thing.

"I'm sorry I lied to you about going to see my parents. It's just this whole day hasn't gone quite, well...according to plan." His words echoed in her memory.

"My whole life hasn't gone according to plan..." Emily said aloud what she'd replied to him in her mind, with no one to hear it now. The tear hanging in her eye fell onto a tarnished key, beckoning her to play. Obeying the call, she played a different song than before. As her nimble fingers danced, the words to describe her sorrow became clear, and she began to sing...

If I did what's right for him, why am I in pain?

He set me free, but I still feel the same

And I know that he is happy

And I know what I have said

Yet the heartache that I feel, will I ever have it healed?

No it seems that I still have some tears to shed

If I did what's right for them, why am I in pain?

I set him free, but I still feel the same

And I have tried to be happy

Even though I am not wed

Yet the heartache that I feel, will I ever have it healed?

But I'll answer what was said

Yes a busted heart can break after one's dead

*A/N: I love Corpse Bride, and I decided to write my take on how Emily feels after she left Victor with Victoria in The Land of the Living. This is actually a scene from a post-movie story I'm working on, but I thought it stood nicely by itself. The words are written to the same tune as Emily's singing lines in "Tears To Shed." Everything belongs to Tim Burton & Danny Elfman. I only re-imagined some of the lyrics of the original song. And yes, the title is inspired by "Jack's Lament" in The Nightmare Before Christmas. ;)*