Strings Of Time

VIII

(Elise's POV)

Okay. I need to calm down. I have to be frank and tell him what's on my mind. I need to get this out of my chest and turn it into words. But what if I was too frank and too bold to say such things? Oh no... I can't just blurt it out like a psycho. I need to think of a way on how to say it without offending him. Okay...

"Elise? Do you have anything to say?" asked Mr. Mathews with both hands on his waist.

Just as when I was about to say something we heard a loud thud. My eyes widen when I realized... I was in big trouble.

For all of these to make sense, I'll take you back from the beginning.

It started last Friday when Mr. Mathews' daughter went crazy over her addiction. It wasn't pretty. The young master was unconscious and wasn't even responding. I thought I killed her with my slap. She was immediately rushed to the nearest clinic where Cindy was working. Alex's father hastily came to her daughter's aid. Henry was having a rough day and this incident topped it all off. I stayed at the mansion waiting for them to return. I couldn't just leave without explaining to Mr. Mathews about what happened.

Later that night, they came home and Alex was okay. The housekeeper said that Alex had an overdose of her medication. They had to pump out all the pills from her stomach. I couldn't even express how sorry I am for what happened. I didn't get the chance to talk to Henry because he was too distraught to talk anyone at that time.

Before I left, I noticed that Alex's bedroom door was open because of the dimmed light that was coming out of her room. The whole mansion was dark at that time and I assumed that everyone was asleep. I couldn't resist to take a peek at Pandora's Box. When I came closer, I saw the bedridden young master, her eyes still shut, and her father sitting on a chair beside Alex while holding her hand. I can see that Henry looks helpless and he was crying. I know he's saying something to her but I couldn't hear it. I pitied him­­- No... I pitied the both of them. As I studied the father and daughter, it looks like a devastating emotional wreck was carved on their beautiful faces. What could have happened in the past to make them both look like that? Was it the same as mine? Do I have a face like them?

Monday came and I returned to the halls of the mansion. Everybody was quiet, even Joey wasn't cracking a joke when I entered, the maids didn't even hinted a smile like they used to. Hadleigh Hall felt like a dull place to be in right now.

I went to Mr. Mathews' office to show him my new composition. I slaved for this piece within the weekend, eager to see if Mr. Mathews would approve. However, he wasn't in his office nor the studio either. He must not be at home right now. Where could he possibly be?

As I looked down on my music sheet, I wondered about the young master and started humming the notes of my composition. My voice echoed all over the halls as if the mansion was built to be an amplifier of sound. It sounded beautiful. I can already hear the orchestra playing it at the festival. I suddenly had an urge to dance to my own music and imagine a joyful moment with my family and especially with Christopher. I couldn't stop myself since no one was around to stop me. This is my own way of uplifting such a dull place.

My festive imagination was cut short when I heard a faint music coming from nowhere. I'm sure it wasn't my imagination nor my humming. It was real music. But it wasn't those kinds of music that you hear everyday. This was different... yet familiar. I scoured the halls but couldn't find where the mystery sound was coming from. I also suspected that the music was coming from Alex's room but it wasn't. I'm sure of it. I even placed my ear on her door twice just to be sure.

"Where is it coming from?" I asked myself quietly as I raised my senses to locate the sound. I figured that if I close my eyes, I would know where the music was coming from and so I did. I carefully walked pass the furniture going through the back of the mansion where the lighthouse stood and a...., "Garden..." The music was coming from there. I was a curious girl growing up and so I went through the garden. There were beautiful flowers of all colors, shapes and sizes. There were tall hedges making it as the wall of the whole area. I was amazed by the beauty of this place. I didn't know that Hadleigh Hall has a feminine side to it. It was another secret of the mansion, I guess? As I go further into the garden, I suddenly came to a halt when I saw a familiar structure in front of me. It was a nostalgic feeling, actually. In the middle of Hadleigh Garden was the gazeebo that used to stand in Ashton Park. Inside the gazeebo was my grandfather's gramophone siting on a wooden pedestal. What's more surprising was... the music that I'm hearing came from there. I couldn't believe it. It was like a dream... a familiar dream. To me, this was unbelievable. It was like another old friend came to life and greeted me with a smile.