365

22 - Dream

"All humans are musical. Why else would the Lord give you a beating heart?"

He sat at the front row, just a stretch away from the stage. Moonlight spilled in through transparent blinds covering large arched windows, filled the dimlit concert hall with an almost mythical ambience. 

He took a deep breath in anticipation. His hands were shaking, despite his best effort to clench them together. "Be calm". He told himself. But it was hard to, because it was the day his dear returned to the stage. Is it wrong that he was even more nervous than she was at that moment?

Light in the concert hall was slowly dimmed to none. Chatters died down. A soft spotlight appeared on the stage, casting an angelic glow on the bare shoulder of the returner, glinting off her flowing golden hair and her silver flute. Her white dress seemed to float around her, embracing her, as she stepped to the centre of the stage. There she is basking in the mythical air of the night. There she is, his angel. 

Her eyes scanned the audience, finding ... A small, nervous smile appeared on her face. And then their eyes met. "Go for it", he whispered. She gave a small, almost imperceptible, nod and brought the flute up to her lips.

Partita in A minor for solo flute. The monument work of Bach. 
She just had to bring out the big gun on her return. She just had to play his favourite piece, hadn't she?

Here comes the Allemande. But something was not right. The tone was airy, fuzzy around the edges. He saw her wincing. A flash of panic appeared in her green eyes. His heart sunk. "Focus, you can do it", he whispered under his shallow breath. There eyes met momentarily, right at the end of a phrase.

She closed her eyes, took a quick, deep breath, and stood taller.

And something changed. The airy tone was gone. The sound was as pure as ringing bells on high notes, and was thick and warm on low notes. The flow of music was unrestricted; and soon, it filled the concert hall. Music blended with the moonlight to form a mythical ambience that was simply out of this world. He closed his eyes. He felt like flying, carried by her soothing music. She was inviting him on a journey. 

When he opened his eyes. He was not in the crowded concert hall anymore. He was sitting alone in an 18th century cathedral. And there she was, on the balcony, decorating the very fabric of time with her music. He can feel her. He can hear her yearning. They were communicating, without a single word. She reached him.

And then, the music ceased. 

Her beautiful green eyes; they were his first sights when he returned to this world. And then, he realised that applause was exploding around him. A standing ovation. He stood up, grabbed the flower bouquet, and sprang to the stage. Everything seemed to fade away, leaving the World only to him and his angel. She held the bouquet, and pulled him in for a hug.

"Lilies? You are such a predictable man" She whispered in his ears.

"Your predictable man" He corrected her. She let out a giggle. Her eyes brighten, and her cheeks were flushed.

Butterflies filled his stomach. At the same time, he could not hide a mischievous grin, thinking about the celebration awaiting them at home...

Sketch by Kot-Filemon (https://kot-filemon.deviantart.com/art/Gothic-interior-207264825)