V slid his fingers across the top of the piano's hood, sighing as he raised it to reveal the ivory beneath.

The man straightened his posture; hands shaking.

There was an audience of hundreds just to his left- waiting for him to start. Why was he so nervous? They were there for him. They paid to see him. It was his recital.

He shook his head slightly, biting his lip, and started.

Everything would be fine, surely. He had to be good...he had to, if he was able to have his own concert; to be invited to have his own concert.

Yet, doubt still plagued his mind.

The song was ingrained in his head, he played from memory, most of his hours were spent at the piano these days.

V actually thought it strange- two years ago, he would have been the kind of man to give up everything if he lost his lover, and now...he worked even harder. He knew why, obviously, he was working to run away from his emotions.

He looked up for a second, half expecting to see his ex there watching him- just like she used to- when he remembered 'Oh yes, she's gone.'

For some reason this realization finally sunk in. The man stopped playing; freezing in place.

At least she was honest. She was always honest. Well; except for the fact she was seeing someone else while they were together, but she was honest by admitting it.

"Was I not enough?" V asked.

She sighed.

"That's...not why. I was just confused, I think...I don't know how I feel."

"So you really didn't know that you loved me…?"

"No- V- I love you, I just…."

They went around in circles like this. She eventually gave up trying to explain. Tears were streaming down both their faces.

For the first time in a long time, V was the closest he had ever been to being angry.

He was shaking. V felt vulnerable. Insecure. He lost motivation. He couldn't continue.

It would look dramatic to up and leave, but...he felt as if he had no choice.

The man stood up calmly, closed the lid; gently picked up his sheet music, and walked off stage.

V pulled a hand through his hair as he made his way through the wings, brushing past anyone trying to stop him and ask questions. He'll explain everything later.