Memories of SIGAL

VEE

"Vee, listen."
I heard her through the snow, the driving wind, and the high alto voice singing that dratted song, and every faculty of the Great Stave latched tenaciously to that sound.
"Focus."

Life goes on and on and on and on and on...

It felt like my head was swinging in two directions at once, dribbled side to side like a basketball. I was struggling...yet somehow not struggling, falling but not falling...then dizziness set in, like the song was lulling me to sleep, or trying to, but giving me vertigo instead.
Swirling... swirling...

Help!

"....Do you hear me?"

I do now, I thought, relieved. I felt strength rush through me, and I was grateful the energy hadn't dissipated while my head was swimming like that, but I was being drawn away now...

On and on and on and on...

NO! I clenched my teeth. Please.

I'm this close.

"Holy Sandstorms! This is so cool!" It was a whisper, but a loud one. Or was it just me?

Marcell, get her away from me!

"Focus. Focus. Focus..."

I'm trying!

The song grew louder. So did everything else. I kept hearing people breathing, some man shaving, children playing...and all the sounds rose, a mighty wave about to drown me in the chaos...yet the song wasn't among the multitude of random sounds. It stood on its own, clearer than crystal bells.

"Life goes on and on and on and on and on..."

It tempted me to follow it to safety, wherever that was, away from all this noise. Still, I knew if I did, it'd lead me nowhere, and I'd be back where I started....MOM!

"Keep your head clear... stay focused and claim--"

SPLASH!
BEEP!
"Mom, let's go!"
"Lunch is ready!"

I felt something snap, break open. The song was gone, and replaced by a cacophony louder than I had ever known. It vibrated my head in its randomness...I had to get out of here!
I opened my eyes, and unclenched my fist.
Did it work?
The tightness I felt for nine years had loosened into this free, energetic sensation, and there were seventeen shades of blue playing in my palm, so...it would be okay to suspect that it worked, right?

Sure, everything got murderously loud, but at least I had my good friend Beethoven's Fur Ellise drifting into my ears.

I gave my Mom a hug. "I did it."
"HEAR THAT, PEOPLE? SHE DID IT!" Xavia cried, and the room exploded in cheers. Who'd have thought so few people would cheer like that?

Then they got to chanting my name. Guess who got THAT started?

But if there's anything I learnt from Fireball, it's that "when people chant your name, turn up your showbiz game," so I stepped up to the plate, flicking my wrist and causing blue fireworks to appear, just like I'd seen her do.
More cheering. Kids surrounded us for... whyever, talking about how cool it all was. Xavia then turned publicity manager shooing away the throng of kids. "Okay people, move aside, move aside, MOVE ASIDE! GIVE HER SOME AIR, COME ON, PEOPLE! NEVER SEEN AWESOMENESS BEFORE?" She went ahead of Marcell and me, herding away my "throng of adoring fans"--her words, not mine--and I was left alone with a certain friend of mine.
"She's too much," he laughed.
"Tell me about it."
"I mean it in a good way."
"Of course you do."
"Yeah, of course I..." Marcell stopped. "That was a low blow, Ovidia. A VERY low blow."
I shrugged. "Is it?"
"It is."

Somehow my Mom was at the entrance of the Hall. I could swear she was with the Unsealer like, eight seconds ago.  I'd caught up to her and was about to make an exit when I heard: "So did nobody else notice you made the exact same hand motions as Xavia when you made your fireworks?"
I took a last glance at him until he heard me: No one noticed. Not even I did.