Let the music guide you

The musical note.

                  

I looked out of the window in my bedroom. The weather, like me, was nervous. Rain was pouring down hard and the wind was howling. The sky I noticed was grey with a twinge of yellow daylight -altogether quite beautiful.  I drew back my curtains with a sigh and went to get ready for the day. Today was my concert and I was both excited and nervous.  I shook my head clearing all thoughts and made my way down for breakfast.

"Good luck today!" my mom said, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

"Thanks", I muttered as I stuffed my mouth with toast.

Finishing, I jumped down from my chair and ran out the door barely escaping a goodbye. I caught the bus running to catch up with it but it stopped finally allowing me to get in. Panting, I took my seat and waited for my stop. At my stop I got off, stumbling as I did so.

"Hey T" someone called

I looked behind me to see my friend, Justin, carrying a guitar case that looked bigger than him. In his pockets, I noticed drumsticks which looked dirty and well used.

"Hey Justin", I said walking towards him

"Excited for today?" he asked

"Yeah", I said uncertainty covering my voice "Just nervous I guess."

"You and me both" he said, his voice filled with many emotions.

Justin was a musician like me but more talented. He played the guitar and the drums plus a bit of the violin. But my favourite weren't any of those, my favourite was his voice. He sang so beautifully it was hard to describe but once he began you would become absorbed in the song. Justin was shy and he only sang for a few people. Lucky me, I was the first person for whom Justin sang and ever since then we had been good friends.

When Justin and I reached the auditorium, we both gave each other nervous looks and stepped inside.

Inside the auditorium was chaos. Sheet music was flying everywhere. Sheet music. I stared at my fingers. Why did that ring a bell? Finally realisation sank in. I had forgotten my sheet music at home and I couldn't call anyone because I had locked it in my draw. The key, I realised, was in my pocket.  Irritated and worried as ever I took a seat, trying to find a solution. At last, when I got a few ideas, my worries seemed to ease. The show would begin soon. Parents and students had already started to enter. I made my way to the stage and prepared for the concert as I was to perform first. I changed quickly from my uniform to casuals and tied my hair back. I rubbed my neck trying to ease my fear. As the introductions began and the speeches took place I found that I couldn't sit still. I kept moving. Finally, when the audience was quiet, my heart stopped and I knew it was time.

"Teresa Thomas", a voice boomed from the stage.

I made my way there, my heart beats irregular, my hands sweating. I neared the piano and froze. What was I going to do? My plan slipped from my mind, anxiety making me forget. Think, Teresa, think. With no sheet music I couldn't play my piece and I hadn't memorized any piece yet.  But there was one song composed by me that I knew. Without a second thought, my hands found the keys and the sweating stopped. My heart beat settled as I began to play. It started out soft in a way that was light and delicate. The music seemed to flow and never stop; it seemed to come right from the heart. I remember Justin telling me that a good musician could always share their journey through music and now, right here, I felt like my life was being shared. Suddenly I felt happy and a little shy.  The music became louder and faster running to catch up to the air that seemed so light. I played and I forgot about the world around me. All my fears suddenly melted away. Music was like the universal language of mankind.  My playing slowed, my fingers tapped the keys gently, fading away until it stopped. I looked around the crowd with a huge smile playing on my face as I saw everyone standing up and clapping. This was true happiness. I was definitely happy that I left my sheet music behind. Everything happens for a reason.

Returning home, people looked my way and smiled. Parents pointed at me and some came and spoke to me asking about my song. As I left the bus I went inside and went straight to the kitchen where I saw my mom.

"How was it?" she asked

I smiled.

"It was okay", I said biting back a laugh.

It was more than okay. It was perfect.