That Melody

Chapter 1

        How many times had Chloe lost herself on the prestige school of musical arts? When she was little she dreamed about attending this university. Now she was content in finishing her senior year of high school without the pressures of playing scores for mundane people. Chloe never felt her life was missing music except twice in her life.

            The second time was happening right before her. The notes wafted through the air and made her heart beat. Chloe’s eyes drifted closed as she simply stood there listening to the sweet sounds of the piano. It had been so many years since she’s heard such a beautiful melody from the piano. The song enticed her senses and enthralled her whole body. Everything about her resolve of not attending this university melted like snow in spring. Something about the sound sent chills up her spine, but cooled her nerves.

            She couldn’t get herself to look and see who was behind such a masterpiece. It felt if she did, she would ruin the delicate picture that the music painted. When the song ended it took a while before her body was back under her control. It was refreshing to hear a song besides the classics, and played with such passion at that. Chloe took in a deep breath and ran home. There was a song that she suddenly just had to play.

            Her fingers itched as she neared her house. Chloe’s ears rang with that tune as if it were on repeat in her brain. She swung open her bedroom door, all but ignoring her mother and brother’s greeting. A case sat by her bed, as if waiting for her.  Chloe ran her fingers over the lock, as if caressing it. A soft smile crossed her lips. “Hello Viola.” She hummed, unlatching the case to reveal her white violin. As natural as breathing she placed her violin on her shoulder and drew her bow. She ignored the footsteps of her mother, who was probably angry with her for her rude entrance. At that moment, she couldn’t think of anything other than what she was doing right then and there.

            Right now she needed to play the accompaniment to that piano she heard earlier. Chloe needed to play it like her life depended on it. As soon as the first note was made, her mother’s mouth shut and everything but her violin was quiet. The whole world around her went still as she poured her heart into the music. All she could hear, even now, was that piano playing alongside her. Playing her violin with such fervor was how she let go of reality and transported herself away. This time was filled with a new level of drive of passion.

It didn’t take a genius to know that something happened to her daughter. It had been a long time since she’s seen that spark in Chloe’s eyes: Too long. Diane would even let it slide that she wasn’t playing exactly to the score. That was just how her daughter was. Chloe always told her that an artist’s heart was open to interpretation. It was probably something that they could never agree on but she couldn’t deny that her precious daughter was talented, as thick headed as she was.

“So what brought this on?” Diane asked when Chloe lowered her violin and bow with a long drawn out exhale.

“Mama I need to go to that school.” It wasn’t exactly a direct answer, but it was something she was wishing to hear from her daughter for a very long time now.

“Do you know if they’re still holding auditions this late in the year? This isn’t an ordinary school, you know.” Diane pointed out.

“I know.” Chloe almost stuttered, embarrassed.

“You don’t get in just by having good grades and simply applying. This is for the musical elite. You need to pass at least one audition. Most kids have been going to them for years trying to get in.” Diane folded her arms, testing her daughter’s new found resolve.

“I know.” She repeated, looking up the university on her laptop as she lay sprawled across her bed, a new look on her face that Diane couldn’t say she recognized on her daughter.