Dreams Can Come True

75. Echoes of Tomorrow

The sun shone brightly through the curtains as I opened my eyes, my head pounding from the excess of wine from the previous evening. It took a moment for the memories of the night before to come back: Bas and I opening a second bottle of wine, laughing and talking into the late hours. I smiled at the thought of the camaraderie, but couldn't deny that my head was having a tough time with it now.
Reaching for my nightstand, I grabbed my phone, my heart racing as I saw a message from Bill. A sense of relief washed over me as I read that they had arrived safely in South Africa and were staying at a beautiful hotel. My smile widened as I read that he wanted to have a Skype call tonight. I replied to his message immediately, excited at the prospect of seeing him, even if it was only through a computer screen.
After answering his message with a smile on my face, I then reluctantly climbed out of bed, determined to start the day. I still felt a bit groggy, but the thought of the conversation with Bill gave me a new energy. With lead in my shoes, I got up and made my way to the living room, where I found Bas on the couch. He didn't seem to be in great shape either, but his presence still brought me a sense of comfort. "Good morning," I mumbled as I plopped down beside him.
Bas looked up from his phone and smiled weakly. "Good morning," he replied, his voice hoarse from fatigue. "How are you feeling?"
I shrugged, grimacing in pain. "Not great," I confessed. "But it was all worth it."
Bas nodded understandingly, his gaze filled with sympathy. "Definitely," he said. "But let's hope the coffee does its job."
With a smile, I got up and started making coffee, grateful for the company of my good friend.

Later that day in the recording studio, the atmosphere was tense but excited. We were about to record the final track of our CD, "Echoes of Tomorrow." Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I prepared to lend my voice to this important song.
Bjorn, our dedicated producer, stood behind the mixing desk with a focused expression on his face. His instructions were closely followed by the technical team as they put the finishing touches on the setup.
I put on headphones, and Bjorn began giving me instructions, his voice clear and distinct through the headset. "Okay, Elise, we're going to start with the first take," his voice sounded. "I want you to really immerse yourself in the lyrics. Convey the feeling of hope and anticipation that 'Echoes of Tomorrow' embodies."
I nodded, my heart rate quickening at the thought of lending my voice to this powerful song. The music began playing in my headphones, the melody captivating and hypnotic.
As I began to sing, I felt myself completely immersed in the emotion of the song. My voice filled the space as I expressed the words with passion and intensity, my emotions captured in every note.
Bjorn occasionally gave instructions, encouraging and reassuring. "Beautiful, Elise, you're really into it. But try to add a bit more dynamics in the chorus," he instructed. His words were like a compass, guiding and directing as I lost myself in the music.
We recorded several takes, each with its own unique energy and emotion. Each time, I tried to perfect my voice, capturing every nuance as I struggled to achieve the perfect sound.
After a number of takes, Bjorn nodded in satisfaction. "We've got it, Elise. Great job," he said with a smile. I felt a wave of relief and satisfaction wash over me. We had recorded the final track, and it felt like a triumph.
As I took off the headphones, I felt a deep sense of pride. This song, this experience, would forever be etched in my memory as one of the highlights of my musical journey.
I nodded to the producers in gratitude and walked over to the rest of the band, who were sitting at a table waiting. Bas looked up as I entered and gave me an encouraging smile. "How did it go?" he asked.
I shrugged and smiled weakly. "It went okay," I replied. "It's just always a bit nerve-wracking for me, that whole recording process."
Bas nodded understandingly as he took a sip of his coffee. "You did great," he said. "And you know, it only gets easier with time."

Time seemed to have flown by, and the realization that it was already late slowly dawned on me as I looked at the clock on the wall. A small sigh of fatigue escaped my lips. Bas noticed my tiredness and chuckled, "You want to go home, don't you?" I nodded as I slowly moved my head, still feeling the aftermath of the hangover.
Bas understood my hint and nodded understandingly. "I haven't fully recovered from my hangover yet," I joked, trying to pep myself up to get through the rest of the day. Bas gave me an agreeing nod, knowing how it felt.
Suddenly, I saw Paul coming our way, and I felt a deep sigh coming up. Paul greeted us with a wide smile. "Good job, guys," he exclaimed as he walked towards us. "I heard from Bjorn that 'Echoes of Tomorrow' has been recorded too," he continued.
Bas confirmed, and I couldn't help but let a tired smile spread across my face. "Do you need us anymore today?" I asked, hoping for an early release from the studio. Paul seemed to think for a moment, then shook his head. "No, go home," he finally said. "Don't forget we have the photoshoot tomorrow! Be on time, guys!" he added before turning around and walking away.
Bas and I looked at each other in relief. It felt like a weight had been lifted off our shoulders. We had survived the day and were finally allowed to go home. "Let's go," I said to Bas as I headed for the exit.