The Sound of Austria

*1*

Colorful lights flashed and flickered as muffled voices came to her, her body numb and still as she felt something drip on her only to change to the damningly bright white room, the doctors and nurses conversing with her grandparents once more as she turned the volume up upon the TV only for her world to shatter with reality as the sudden vibrations tickled her foot awake.

Delilah's head shot up as the final bell called the end of the day for her and the students. She didn't notice that she had dozed off grading the papers before her as students shuffled out of the familiar classroom. Shaking her head, she tried to focus back on the papers as her memories flooded her mind as a small cramp claimed her side.

"Just wait it out." she thought to herself.

Tidying up her desk and filing papers away, she made her way out of the building as multiple students and staff waved her goodbye and to have a pleasant evening as she gave them the same. It was days like this where her mind was running rampant and gloomy on the past that her coworkers and students gave her that uplift she needed. It broke her heart a little that it was her last day there in the humble school. And now, she'd have to start all over again.

Once outside, she saw her grandfather waiting for her, car door open wide as he smiled at her. She was thankful for the two of them, more than anything since that night. Once inside, he gave her a gentle kiss and started the car. "How was your day?"

"It was good, nagypapa." she smiled at him, "How is nagymama? Still running around?"

She saw him laugh, "That she is. She doesn't want her granddaughter to leave."

"I know. But it is for the best." Delilah told him, "Many more opportunities to teach multiple children and adults."

She saw a small tear stray his eyes as he looked at her, "Your mother and father would be so proud of you."

The thought of her parents made her heart sink, he was right, they would be proud of her and how far she had come in this demanding world. She was gifted as some would say; literature and arts a fine hobby for herself as she was able to teach multiple languages in sign. Yes, they truly would be.

The familiar home came to sight as she saw her grandmother bustling around within the home, catching her eye as they pulled in. Delilah was barely a moment out of the car as her grandmother's arms came around her.

"Szia my grandchild!"

"Szia nagymama." she hugged the woman, "What is tonight?"

"Gulyás és pogácsa." she replied as they entered the quaint home.

Delilah didn't have to go far to smell the delicious foods in the kitchen, making her mouth water as she set her things down. After helping set everything up, she sat before them as they dove into the meal, speaking about what came to mind and how much different things would be once she was gone.

"You make it seem like I'm disappearing forever nagymama." she stated.

"I know but it feels that way. We've had you since you were twelve sweetheart, it's going to be lonely without you here."

"What about me?" her grandfather asked.

"I married you ass, I'm stuck with you."

Delilah chuckled at the two of them as they spoke quickly to one another. She gave up trying to figure out what they were saying and focused on her meal as the strange leathery wood smell came to her. She tried to focus on the scent just to have her eyes flutter shut and see the two women before her. Such pose and regal attire donned the two women as they flashed at different point before her eyes. Then he was there. The grand piano before him as his hands graces the ivory and ebony keys, the vibrations of the beautiful piece rumbled the floor as she stepped closer to him, having that wonderful scent hit her once more just to feel someone knock on the table before her.

Shooting her eyes open, Delilah found her grandparents staring at her in worry and awe.

"Oh, bocsánat."

"Delilah." her grandmother's hand came to hers, "Did you see them again?"

She was silent to the question. After the accident, the vision of the women and man grew more and more, doctors rubbed it off as head trauma trying to make light of the situation with something happier, yet deep in her heart she knew it was something more.

Her grandfather rapped his knuckles on the table, gaining her gaze, "I don't think it's what the doctors said."

Her grandmother nodded with him as he moved to the other side of the room. Before long, he came back and placed two books before her, ones she had seen within her years of school.

"When you told us about them, the women, we went looking after you described them to us when you were younger." he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"We thought it may fade but when we realize that it just grew we knew there was something more." her grandmother added, "I think you should read about these women and see what you can find out since you dream of them."

Delilah was shocked that her grandparents went that far, most believe the accident messed with her head or that she was just crazy, but they seemed to have hope that it was more than that. Glancing back down, she read the titles of the biographies before her as the women flashed before her eyes once more. Maria Theresa, Bertha von Suttner, and Anna Freud laid before her as the women seemed to smile at her.

How? How on earth could she be seeing these women before her eyes, she never met them, they were all gone by the time she was even thought of yet every vision she had was fully of them. And him.

"You are a strong young woman Delilah, we know you can do this." he hugged her.

"We believe you will have so much closer there." her grandmother squeezed her hand, "It will be hard to let you go but you need this. You need to spread your wings and fly."

Delilah wasn't sure what to think or do as she looked at them both and the books, it seemed surreal that it was happening but it was. Tomorrow she would be riding up to Vienna and starting her new life without them, it was daunting really yet something in her was saying it was the right thing to do.

Looking at them both, she smiled as tears slowly fell, "Thank you for everything. I promise to do what I need and get my answers in Austria."