Hold Me Close

Potential.

She managed to show where his talent was to be. While his skills with the violin, flute, cello and bass clarinet were good, his singing was actually what he excelled at. He had big eyes as he softly gained confidence. Even Mr. Wallace was impressed.

"It has been a long time since we've had a singer within this school. That was always what the other schools had that we didn't. But now we have a chance." Ruby paused.

"A... chance to be great?"

"Absolutely, my dear boy." Sapphire smiled as Ruby's eyes lit up. There we go.

~

Sadly, it seemed his mother didn't like that plan since she saw a scar on his face.

"What happened?" He shook his head, trying to concentrate on something else. Finally he broke down.

"She said-" Sapphire grabbed his hand as he trembled. "She said that she doesn't raise singers- she doesn't make singers- that her family has never had singers before and I was not going to be one-" She gulped as she rubbed his hand, trying to calm him down. Was this woman serious?

"But you're the first singer in years to be at this school, so you are the first to challenge schools that would otherwise look down upon you."

"She wouldn't listen- she was so locked onto me being a singer that- that-" She gulped as he put his head down, the tears being far from over. Great. That's one way of burning out a fire.

~

Ruby was unmotivated the rest of that week and the following week. It didn't help that his mother continued to berate him about the singer talent he had and punish him for not practicing his other instruments. By the end of the second week, he looked trapped and hurt, but he refused to seek help, despite Sapphire's offers. Finally, she took matters into her own hands.

"My turn, bitch."