Shattered Happiness

Listen slowly

Miette scanned the crowd with a confident look as she gripped her flute. Her eyes kept searching and searching until she found the pair of eyes that she had been looking for, the same eyes that she had found herself despising all these years. 

There she is. Not on stage, but hiding in the shadows once more. 

The blue-haired scoffed as her eyes sharpened on her, and it seemed that the honey-blonde shivered under her gaze. 'After all these years, she had fallen so low that she's now blending within the depths of the abyss.' 

Miette brought her flute up and looked back at it, seeing a reflection of herself. And for a moment, a glimpse of her younger self appeared. A much younger and much happier version of her. 

Years ago, she was filled with dreams and inspiration when it came to music. But it wasn't always like that from the start. She actually never thought of the said subject or the interest of playing a musical instrument at an early age until she encountered the famous young prodigy of their town:  Serena Yvonne. 

Miette recalled the times when Serena was a rising star as she slowly learned each and every instrument she met. Serena at her prime was...different. Way different from the Serena she knew in the present day. To her, Serena back then was someone who brought something that she had never experienced before. Miette remembered that specific moment like it was yesterday. 

She and her family went to watch one of her first few performances. Apathetic Miette took her seat and waited until the room darkened with one spotlight showcasing the little honey-blonde girl. The rising prodigy raised a silver instrument towards her mouth. 

It was the very moment Serena played her famous flute for the very first time in an official performance. 

The girl played, and Miette felt like she saw colors for the first time. 

After the performance, young Miette couldn't stop thinking about it. Day and night. Until it got to her to the point that she's inspired to be like her. She had gained a crazy idea. And she never felt so motivated before.

Her parents asked her. "How did you think of that performance, Miette?"

Young Miette didn't speak up right away, but her eyes were filled with stars and inspiration. "Can I do flute lessons?"

"Oh? Why?" Her parents exchanged surprise glances. 

"So I can be like her!" she exclaimed with a pout, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "And be her rival one day!"

And yes, Miette was true to her word. 

Of course, she was no prodigy like Serena, but she learned and worked hard to catch up to someone who felt like a star that lived thousands of light-years away. She knew her skills were honed well over time, but she also knew it was nothing close to the prodigy that she looked up to. 

One day, she made it. Enough to be part of the competition Serena was also part of. Miette remembered practicing nonstop until that day came. She appeared calm and composed, but she was shaking in excitement on the inside as she thought of meeting her idol by playing on the very same stage as her. 

The new musician once thought, 'This time, she'll avert the prodigy's gaze towards her.'

Like Miette once did long ago. 

When she arrived at the building, where the competition would take place, she was almost skipping her way inside. All competitors were also kids her age as well. Some were obviously nervous as they did breathing exercises to calm themselves down. Others were simply aloof and confident in their skills, as if they had this competition in the bag. Well, Miette was probably one of them.