Lisa sat, her letter gripped tightly in hand, and her tears were incessant. She couldn't believe how Joey had to say goodbye. When you love someone, you should never HAVE TO say goodbye. She couldn't help but wonder if this was merely a choice made by the member of a bigshot in a boy band. She had always been good enough. And now this? Nothing but a letter to show for 3 years. How could this have happenned? What did she do? Better yet...what didn't she do? The questions ran rapidly through her mind. Answers couldn't seem to be found.

ONE NIGHT BEFORE

"Lis, just read it, okay? When I'm gone, it'll help you to understand what I am doing," Joey pleaded, holding tightly onto her hands.

"Joey, but what are you doing? Why are you doing this to me?" Lisa cried, one hand in Joey's and one holding the letter.

"It's not being done to you. This is being done for you. Things are getting more intense now with the group...I just," he was interrupted.

"Joey, I understand....I can wait," Lisa cried.

"It's too much, darling, trust me," he smoothed a hand down her cheek as he tried not to let any tears become evident.

"3 years, Joe...3 years," she cried.

"Don't you think I know this, Lisa? I don't have the time that you deserve and it just isn't fair."

END FLASHBACK

"It just isn't fair," she cried as she looked down at the letter and read, "With Love, Joey." Love, she questioned that, and just then her radio sounded with a sign from above.

"And now, holding steady on the Billboards, here's 'N Sync with Gloria Estefan with "Music of My Heart."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

You'll never know

What you've done for me

What your faith in me

Has done to my soul

And you'll never know the gift you've given me

I'll carry it with me..yeah

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~

She began to read the letter again, and her eyes once again started to tear: "Lisa, I met you and was a broken hearted teenage kid that had no ambition. Somewhere in me, you found something. You brought it out of me. You encouraged me, and you never gave up. Your belief in me over these past few years has helped me to hold onto my dreams, and look where I am now. I won't forget that...."

She stopped for a moment to listen to the song.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Through the days ahead, I'll think of days before

You made me hope for something better

And made me reach for something more

You taught me to run

You taught me to fly

Helped me to free the me inside

Help me hear the music of my heart

Help me hear the music of my heart

You've opened my eyes

You've opened the door to something I have never known before

And your love

Is the music of my heart

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Lisa placed the letter down and closed her eyes tightly to avoid the flow of tears.

Meanwhile at Joey's.....

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

You were the one

Always on my side (always on my side)

Always standing by (always standing by)

Seeing me through

You were the song that always made me sing(made me sing made me sing)

I'm singing this for you (singing this for you babe)

Everywhere I go, I think of where I've been (think of where I've been)

And of the one who knew me better

Than anyone ever will again

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Joey sat on his bed reminiscing with old pictures. There seemed to be so many, the first date...the amusement parks...the beach...weddings of certain relatives...it was all right there in a box in front of him.

"Fatone, what the hell are you doing?" he asked himself aloud, "These are more than memories...they're your life, and without her, things are gonna be a mess." He felt a tear trickle down his cheek. He knew this was all a mistake, that he needed her, but how could he let her know now? How could he ask to have her back after he walked away watching her cry? He couldn't. There was no way. He needed a miracle to fall into his lap. He needed the courage to say he was sorry. He needed Lisa right then and there to say it would be alright. She was his heart after 3 years.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

You taught me to run

You taught me to fly

Helped me to free the me inside

Help me hear the music of my heart

Help me hear the music of my heart

You opened my eyes

You opened the door (you opened the door)

To something I have never known before,

And your love is the music of my heart

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Could this have been his miracle? The phone ringing, could it have been Lisa? His hands were shaking from the nervousness building inside of him.

"Hello?" he said with question.

"Joey?" Lisa managed to breathe out, "I...I don't know what to say. I just needed to hear your voice," she cried.

"Oh honey, I am so sorry," he whispered, "Please...I don't know how to say this, but I was wrong, so wrong. I can't just throw this away," he pleaded once again.

"You just said it. It's okay," Lisa said warmly, about to wipe her tears away.

"Do you still love me?" he asked innocently, and she could imagine the puppy dog look on his face right then and there.

"I'll always love you, Joey..even if you're a big, big, jerk," she laughed.

"I love you, too," he grinned.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

What you've taught me

Only your love could ever teach me

You got through when no one could reach me before

Cuz you always saw in me

All the best that I could be

It was you who set me free...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Girl, I am coming over," Joey laughed.

"Oh really?" Lisa questioned playfully and with that, they were back to normal it seemed.

"Really, I need some of that lovin," he giggled, "Love you. See you soon," he hung up the phone.

It was the forgiveness that he needed. The music of her heart let him do wrong and still forgave him. Tears filled Lisa's eyes, "No more tears," she smiled as she ripped up the letter that sat in front of her, "No more tears..."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

And your love is the music of my heart...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Copyrighted:1999, Laura