Louis sat behind the organ, his fingers gliding effortlessly over the keys as he accompanied his grandfather, who played alongside him. The solemn melody of Tantum Ergo filled the grand church, its sacred notes echoing through the vast space, wrapping around the congregation like an unseen embrace.
It was the 31st of December, 2015—the final night before the new year. The final moments before 2016.
The church was bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, the golden flames flickering in time with the music. Stained-glass windows, barely illuminated by the moon outside, cast faint, colored patterns onto the marble floor. The air was thick with the scent of incense, curling in delicate wisps toward the high ceiling, where ancient carvings of saints and angels seemed to watch in silent reverence.
