the echoes of the guitar (4)

As the hours passed, the guitar grew heavier in his hands, the memories sharper. Jake saw moments of triumph and pain, but one memory stopped him cold.A young Henry sat in a dimly lit room, tears streaming down his face, cradling the guitar.

On the table nearby was a photograph of a man—his brother, Jake realized—marked with a date and the words “In Loving Memory.” Jake watched as Henry played a somber melody, pouring every ounce of his grief into the strings.

Jake put the guitar down, his heart heavy. He understood now why his grandfather had always been so guarded, so distant.