I Am Eden

chapitre 2:

"Music is not just an abstract art form but an experience that activates specific regions of the brain. They guide us through the neural pathways involved in perceiving and interpreting music—how the auditory cortex analyzes sound and the limbic system responds to emotions." Explained mister Lawrence to the packed assembly of fourth-year medical students in the amphitheater on the day of their neurology course commencement. "The fascinating phenomenon of musical memory—the ability of our brains to retain melodies and lyrics long after the music has stopped playing. They shed light on how certain neurological conditions can impact musical memory, giving us a glimpse into the profound connections between the brain's functioning and our musical experiences." Explained further mister Lawrence.

"I read that the neural pathways for dancing are hardwired into our brains. It's like our feet have a direct line to our motor cortex, bypassing any sense of rhythm we might think we have", said Connor to Eden and Theo, sitted at the back of the amphitheatre.

"So, you're saying that even if I have two left feet, my motor cortex will brainwash me into thinking I have the ability to rock any song with my amazing dance moves?", said Theo.

Connor nodded, "Yep. Blame it on your motor cortex." He paused to eat Maltesers he brought, hiding under the table. "It's just doing its job, making sure you're ready to bust a move at any given moment".

"Well," said Eden leaning on the table, all three of them discussing while still watching mister Lawrence talking. "I guess I'll have to thank my brain for those embarrassing dance floor moments. At least now I know who's really responsible."

When the class was over, Theo and Connor stood up and began making their way down the aisle filled with students to exit the amphitheater. Connor turned around and noticed that Eden was searching for something in his bag. He stepped back and approached Eden.

"What are you looking for?" he asked.

"Oh, nothing. I must have forgotten my headphones at home," Eden replied.

Connor knew that Eden didn't like going out alone without his headphones. He didn't understand his world, but he knew and accepted that he had one.

"Maybe you forgot them at home, I could see you got out of bed five minutes before I picked you up." Connor said.

"Yeah," Eden said, searching frantically in his bag. "I... " He searched in a pocket he hadn't checked yet, but found nothing. "I guess I'll have to go back and get them."

"But we have our first psychiatry class now."

Eden stood up.

"Yeah, but I don't like walking around without them." He said while putting on his backpack.

"Yeah, I know. Will you be okay on the way?" Connor asked, his gaze filled with slight concern, that of a friend worried about a friend going into unfamiliar territory.

"Yeah."

"Here," Theo said, handing over his headphones. "You can take mine, although only one side works."

Eden took the headphones. "Thank you."

Even though Eden could hear the noise of the outside world, he felt safer with headphones. One of his ears listened to Claude Debussy while the other was forced to hear the various conversations taking place in the subway. Strangely, he found it comforting to oscillate between the two atmospheres.

He got off at his stop. The apartment he rented was quite far from his university, but it was the only one he could afford with the financial help from his parents. It was not a problem as he enjoyed public transportation. Some days he liked to observe people and wonder what lives they had chosen, how different they were from him. Other times, he liked to listen to his music and think, immersing himself in his own world, gazing at a fixed point without really looking at it.

Today, all he could see was himself, reflected in the subway window. Maybe he should dye his hair. Blue, red, or green? Perhaps he should dress in colors other than black and gray. Maybe he should change his backpack.

The subway made its usual grating noise to announce its arrival at a stop, Eden's stop. His subway station was located within a train station, so it was quite large, perhaps the largest on the line. He got off and hurriedly climbed the stairs; he didn't like taking the escalators. He glanced at the time while walking briskly, 9:47. He picked up his pace, hoping not to miss the second part of the psychiatry class.

The further he walked, the closer he got to a melody, getting more and more distinctive and losing its dreamy-like sound as he stepped further. He continued running, then slowed down after passing by the piano. 

He stopped. Turned around and slowly stepped towards it, breath still frantic from running. 

Was there always a piano in this station? Why had he never noticed it before? As he got closer to it, he spotted a person with long black hair, a red backpack on her back, passionately playing the piano. The movements of her body and head accompanied the melody, and she didn't seem to look at her hands, where her fingers touched to produce a note. She held her head high, perhaps with her eyes closed. Maybe she had entered her own world. Could it be that in her world, this piano was actually a flower she caressed and admired for its colors and shape? No, maybe it was a dance, a parade. Perhaps it was an unfolded sheet longing to be folded, a yet-to-be-composed song yearning to be heard, a full cup of coffee leaving brown traces along the rim, marking the passage of its waves, its movements.

Eden was certain that it couldn't just be a piano. He felt like he was witnessing someone publicly entering their own world for the first time, without shame or embarrassment. As he tried to approach slowly to get a glimpse of the person's face, his phone received a notification: So? Got them? It was Connor. Eden checked the time: 10:02. He cast one last glance at the girl, still playing what objectively should be called a piano, and walked away in the opposite direction.

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