The Piano That Should Never Be Played

Everyone at the academy knew the rule.

Nobody touched the old grand piano in Room 17.

It had belonged to the academy's greatest pianist.

A man named Alexander Reed.

Twenty years ago, Alexander disappeared without explanation.

The piano was never played again.

One evening, Daniel Reed accidentally entered the room.

He saw the ancient piano.

Something about it felt strangely familiar.

Without thinking, he sat down.

And played a single chord.

The professor suddenly rushed into the room.

“STOP!”

Daniel jumped.

“Why?”

The professor stared at the piano.

“Nobody plays that piano.”

Daniel frowned.

“Why not?”

The professor stepped closer.

“It belonged to Alexander Reed.”

Daniel looked confused.

“What happened to him?”

The professor's expression darkened.

“He disappeared twenty years ago.”

Daniel looked at the piano again.

Then something strange happened.

A melody suddenly came into his mind.

He placed his hands on the keys.

And began playing.

The professor's face turned pale.

“That melody…”

Daniel continued.

The professor reached into his pocket and pulled out an old photograph.

It showed a young pianist sitting at the same piano.

The professor looked at Daniel's hands.

Then at the photograph.

His expression became one of complete shock.

“Your hand position…”

Daniel stopped.

“What about it?”

The professor held the photograph next to Daniel.

The similarity was unmistakable.

“Who taught you to play like that?”

Daniel shook his head.

“Nobody.”

The professor stared at him.

Daniel looked at the photograph.

“I learned by myself.”

The professor slowly turned the photograph over.

There was a handwritten note on the back.

He read it aloud:

“If my son ever finds this piano, teach him the melody.”

Daniel froze.

“My son?”

The professor looked at him.

“Daniel…”

He pointed to the photograph.

“That's your father.”

Daniel stared at the picture.

The face.

The hands.

The piano.

Everything suddenly made sense.

But one question remained.

“Where is he?”

The professor lowered his eyes.

“That's the mystery.”

Daniel looked at the old piano.

Then at the photograph.

And slowly began playing the melody again.

Because perhaps his father hadn't disappeared completely.

Perhaps he had simply left a message…

waiting twenty years for his son to hear it.