You Light Up My Life

[Tyson Jay Ritter]

“Thank you,” Tyson said while clearing his throat. He kept his fingers gliding across the ivories of the piano, loud enough that the audience could still hear the melody, yet quiet enough that he could have a moment to talk to them. He loved doing little pop ups like this. “We have a very special guest in our audience tonight,” he said, sitting up to lick the corner of his lips before smiling in Rosie’s direction as he waited for the light to focus on her. “That last song was actually written for my girl here… “ he said, trying to forget the fact that he had gotten a little choked up during his performance of ‘It Ends Tonight’. “And I happen to know this next song is one of her favorites,” he said, pressing down more aggressively on the keys so that the music would be louder as he transitioned into playing a cover of “Unsteady’.

At the end of the song, Tyson brought his hand up to the crowd, waving at them with a genuine appreciation of coming out tonight. He stood up, shaking his hand out over his hair before he made his way toward Rosie, the brightest thing in any room. “Hey,” he said, leaning down to kiss her cheek before pulling her tightly against his chest, his long arms wrapping themselves easily around her small frame. “Did you get a drink already?” he asked, finally letting her go before he looked down into her eyes, a smirk playing across his lips.

[Rose Elliot Madison]

Rosie adjusted her shirt and smiled up at Tyson, knowing this song was about her. With a swirl of emotion as she watched him, she took a sip of her drink where she sat at the bar, hearing the slight break in his voice. She adored Tyson so much, loved him really. He treated her like she was the only woman in the world he could see sometimes. And that was pretty amazing considering he was in a serious relationship and she was married. But Tyson was the special one. She knew that now, all these years later. She often wondered, as she gazed at the roses he sent her or the things he sent her, what if their timing had been different? If he had somehow come into her life before Ethan set it on fire, or after she'd had time to put herself back together. He'd never really had a proper chance, since Rosie never even put herself back together; Declan had somehow picked up the pieces. Everyone had a what if; Tyson was hers. And she could never ever admit that to anyone, for fear of the box of old feelings and suppressed emotions that might surface. No. It was better like this, to be his friend. To have him in her life at all was a blessing. And she knew he knew she loved this song. Maybe she was a little unsteady when they were together.

When Tyson finished his set and joined her, she eagerly wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes, finding comfort in the familiarity of his arms. "You were so wonderful," she smiled warmly, kissing his cheek. She motioned to her empty glass, "I did, but let me buy you a drink." Rosie flagged down the bartender and ordered them each other drink, and then placed her hand over his, "I love X Ambassadors. We should try to go see them sometime if they are in the city."