The Song Finished in the Margins of a Borrowed Hymn Book

Clara finds an old book on a chair. The cover is brown. The pages are yellow. She opens it. She sees small words in the margin. Someone wrote them by hand. She reads the words: 'My voice is quiet. But I am here.' Below the words, there are five musical notes. Then the song stops. Clara looks around. The room is empty. She sees a name on the page: Nora.

Clara takes a pencil. She hums the five notes. Then she writes a new note. It feels right. She writes more notes. Now the song has an end. Clara sings the song quietly. She closes the book and puts it on the chair. She starts to walk away. Then she stops. She goes back and opens the book. Under the notes, she writes: 'For Nora.' Clara walks outside. She is smiling.