摘要：
Foreword:Musichasthepowertotransportustodifferentplacesandtimes,toevokeemotionsandmemo... Foreword:
Musichasthepowertotransportustodifferentplacesandtimes,toevokeemotionsandmemorieswethoughtwerelongforgotten.Itisalanguagethatneedsnotranslation,auniversalexpressionofhumanexperience.Andforsome,aparticularmelodycanbecomeaconstantcompanionthroughouttheirlives,asourceofcomfortandfamiliarity.Thisisthestoryofonesuchmelodyandthepeoplewhoselivesittouched.Inasmalltownnestledinthecountryside,therelivedayounggirlnamedMei.Shewasashyandintrovertedchild,preferringthecompanyofbooksandmusictothatofotherchildren.Herparentswerebothmusicians,andfromayoungage,theyencouragedhertoplaythepiano.Meifellinlovewiththeinstrumentandspenthourseverydaypracticing,losingherselfinthemelodiesshecreated.Oneday,whilebrowsingthroughherparents'collectionofsheetmusic,Meicameacrossapiecethatcaughtherattention.Itwasasimplemelody,buttherewassomethingaboutitthatresonatedwithher.Shestartedplayingit,overandoveragain,untilshehadmemorizedeverynote.Fromthenon,thatmelodybecameherfavorite,andsheplayeditateveryopportunity.
AsMeigrewolder,shebecamemoreconfidentinherplayingandbeganperforminginpublic.Sheplayedatlocaleventsandevenwonafewsmallcompetitions.Butnomatterwhatpiecesheplayed,itwasalwaysthatfamiliarmelodythatdrewthemostapplausefromtheaudience.Oneday,whileplayinginalocalpark,MeicaughttheeyeofayoungmannamedZhang.Hewaspassingbyandstoppedtolisten,struckbythebeautyofherplaying.Heintroducedhimselfandaskedifhecouldhearmore.Meiwashesitantatfirst,butsomethingaboutZhang'searnestexpressionmadeheragree.Overthenextfewweeks,ZhangandMeimetoftentoplaytogether.Heplayedtheguitar,andtheydiscoveredthattheirmusicalstylescomplementedeachotherperfectly.Theystartedwritingtheirowncompositions,inspiredbyeachother'splayingandtheworldaroundthem.Astheyspentmoretimetogether,MeifoundherselfopeninguptoZhanginwayssheneverhadwithanyoneelse.Theytalkedabouttheirhopesanddreams,theirfearsandinsecurities.Meifeltadeepconnectionwithhim,andforthefirsttimeinherlife,shefelttrulyunderstood.
Butjustastheirrelationshipwasstartingtoblossom,tragedystruck.Zhangwasdiagnosedwitharareillnessthatlefthimbedriddenandunabletoplaymusic.Meivisitedhimeveryday,bringingherpianotohisbedsideandplayingforhim.Butnomatterhowmanytimessheplayedthatfamiliarmelody,itcouldn'tbringhimbacktohealth.Zhang'sconditionworsened,andhewaseventuallyhospitalized.Meisatbyhisbedside,holdinghishandandprayingforamiracle.Sheplayedmusicforhim,butitseemedlikehedidn'tevenhearitanymore.Meiwasheartbroken,knowingthattheonethingthathadbroughtthemtogetherwasnowslippingaway.Oneday,asMeiwasleavingthehospitalaftervisitingZhang,sheheardafamiliarsound.Itwasthatmelody,comingfromanearbystreetmusician.Meistoppedtolisten,andtearsstreameddownherfaceasmemoriesfloodedback.Sherealizedthatthatmelodywouldalwaysbeapartofherlife,nomatterwhathappened.Timepassed,andZhangpassedawaypeacefullyinhissleep.Meiwasdevastatedbutknewthathewouldhavewantedhertokeepplayingmusic.Shecontinuedtoperform,butitwasneverthesamewithouthimbyherside.Thatfamiliarmelodybecameabittersweetreminderoftheloveandlossshehadexperienced.
Yearswentby,andMeibecamearenownedpianist,performingonstagesaroundtheworld.Butnomatterwhereshewas,thatmelodywasalwaysthere,inthebackofhermind.Ithadbecomeapartofheridentity,asymboloftheloveandpassionthathadonceconsumedher.Oneday,whileontourinEurope,Meireceivedanunexpectedphonecall.Itwasfromayoungmanwhohadheardherplayinginaconcertandwasmovedtotearsbyherperformance.Hetoldherthathehadrecentlylosthismotherandthathermusichadbroughthimcomfortandsolace.Meiwastouchedbytheyoungman'swordsandinvitedhimtomeetherbackstageaftertheconcert.Astheytalked,sherealizedthattheysharedaloveforthatfamiliarmelody.Hetoldherthatithadbeenhismother'sfavoritesongandthathearingMeiplayithadmadehimfeellikeshewasstillwithhim.Meifeltaconnectionwiththeyoungman,andtheycontinuedtokeepintouchovertheyears.Hebecameasourceofinspirationforher,andshewrotenewpieceswithhiminmind.Theyevencollaboratedonafewcompositions,theirmusicalstylescomplementingeachotherjustlikesheandZhang'shad.
AsMeigrewolder,shestartedtofeeltheweightoftimeonhershoulders.Sheknewthatshecouldn'tplayforeverandthatoneday,thatfamiliarmelodywouldnolongerbeheard.Butshetookcomfortinthefactthatithadtouchedsomanylives,bringingjoyandcomforttothosewhoneededitmost.Oneday,whilevisitingherhometown,Meiwalkedpastheroldpianoteacher'shouse.Shehadlongsincepassedaway,butthehousestillstood,atestamenttothememoriestheyhadshared.Meiwalkeduptotheporchandknockedonthedoor,half-expectingherteachertoanswer.Butinstead,ayounggirlopenedthedoor.ShelookedupatMeiwithcuriouseyes,andMeirecognizedsomethinginthemthatshehadoncefeltherself.Thegirl'sparentscametothedoor,andMeiintroducedherself.Sheaskedifshecouldplayafewpiecesontheoldpiano,andtheyagreed.AsMeiplayed,theyounggirlsatnexttoher,watchingherfingersdanceacrossthekeys.Meiplayedthatfamiliarmelody,andtheyounggirl'seyeswidenedinrecognition.Shestartedhummingalong,andMeismiled,knowingthatthemelodywouldliveon.
AsMeileftthehouse,shefeltasenseofclosure.Sheknewthathertimeasapianistwascomingtoanend,butshealsoknewthatherlegacywouldliveonthroughhermusic.Thatfamiliarmelodywouldalwaysbeapartofher,nomatterwherelifetookher.Meicontinuedtoplayuntilshecouldnolonger,andeventhen,thatfamiliarmelodystayedwithheruntiltheend.Shepassedawaypeacefully,surroundedbylovedonesandmemoriesofalifelivedinmusic.Yearslater,ayounggirlwasbrowsingthroughacollectionofsheetmusicatagaragesalewhenshecameacrossanoldbookofpianopieces.Sheopeneditupandsawafamiliarmelody.Sheplayedit,overandoveragain,untilshehadmemorizedeverynote.Andsothecyclecontinued,asthatfamiliarmelodytouchedyetanotherlife.Intheend,itwasn'tjustamelody.Itwasareminderofthepowerofmusictoconnectus,toinspireus,andtohelpusthroughthetoughestmomentsinlife.Itwasasymbolofloveandloss,ofpassionandperseverance.Anditwasatestamenttothefactthatsometimes,thesimplestthingscanhavethemostprofoundimpact.
