Finding Serenity

Prologue 2 - Elizabeth Reyes

Elizabeth Reyes. Child prodigy. Classical pianist. Mother.

Elizabeth was a beautiful young woman. She had luscious blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes, tall slender legs, curves in all the right places. She could have been a top model, but her path in life was decided for her.

As a young girl she loved music. She was always asking to listen to music on the record player, radio, whatever she could get her hands on. When she listened to the music she felt as though her soul was transported to another world. She would close her eyes and just let herself be absorbed.

One day she saw a piano and couldn't resist its calling. She strolled up to the instrument and began to play a classical number from memory, perfectly. Having never had lessons or even touched the instrument before, she was labeled a prodigy at the age of 6, thus sealing her fate.

At first she was ecstatic that she was given a piano along with lessons. It deepened her connection with her love for music. Soon that connection was drowned out by pressure and competition. Pressured to be the best, to be perfection itself, no room for errors. She was to win every competition. Play the songs as they were written. No room for expression or interpretation. It began to drain her.

When she was 17, she met a man in his 20s who she thought would change her life. He promised her an escape, a chance to leave classical behind and move to modern music. But promises in the musical world are often empty. One night was all it took for her world to come crashing down, or was it her saving grace?

~

"Bring her this way! Quickly!" A doctor instructed the nurse.

"Ms. Reyes, remember your breathing exercises. He-he-ho, he-he-ho. You are doing so good dear. You are doing so well." The nurse said in Elizabeth's ear as she rolled her to the delivery room.

After an agonizing 5 hours, Elizabeth was able to lay back and relax. It was over. The nurse brought her a small blanket swaddling a small child. She looked down and her heart was filled with love once more. She smiled with her heart and tears in her eyes as she looked at her new born baby.

"Hello my little angel. Your name is Serena Amara Reyes. You were born to do great things." Her mother said, placing a kiss on her little forehead.

After the doctors completed the rounds of tests for both mother and daughter they were taken back to a room to rest. She was enjoying her bliss when it all came crashing down in an instant..

Elizabeth's mother strolled in with a scowl on her face. Elizabeth let out a sigh knowing the lecture that was coming.

Mrs. Reyes didn't even bother sitting down. She just stood at the end of the bed.

"You are a disgrace. You disappeared for months. You missed your scholarship performance. All because you were a little slut and got yourself pregnant. And you didn't even have the decency to let me know. I'm only here because the hospital called me 5 hours ago. You're not welcome home. I don't accept failure and you have fallen to the bottom. I seriously cannot believe you. I hope you learn from your mistakes. You got yourself in this mess you can get yourself out of it. Don't bother calling me for help because I won't help you."

Elizabeth didn't even get a chance to respond as her mother stormed out. She fought back the tears as she glanced over at her angel. Once she saw those beautiful blue eyes shining back at her, all her sadness disappeared. Her mothers words hurt but she didn't have the heart to be sad with the precious life beside her.

"My angel, it's just us against the world." She smiled, placing a delicate kiss on her baby's head.