The Shattered Memory of a Violinist

//Epilogue - A Audition And Christmas//

//Epilogue — A Audition And Christmas//

“Death gave each sister a present; A heartbreak for you! A dead lover for you! Your face hideous and cold! But, he stopped at the younger sister, who looked at him with pale fear. But, he declared, for you my love, you shall have everything taken from you and then given back in a present on a evening.” — The Quote That Inspired This Book

Willa Van Der Mariel

I stood in front of the judges now, prepared. Except, I wasn’t really. My whole life of training had led up to this moment, and I wanted it more than anything—to grab and to hold, but the moment was now here and I was careful. My violin was a sword in my hands and I was the wielder. But, what if I did not want to wield?

My memories flickered involuntarily to Christmas. There had been a gift for me under the tree, which Asha had frowned at before passing to me, like she was expecting it too blow up in her hands. It had been my music book, and a message from Mason; Sorry.

I had forgiven him. It was who he is, Asha had told me, kissing my forehead, and if you can’t love him for it, then don’t. I did. I did love him for it though, and it hurt—but I couldn’t. I couldn’t love him. 

The book sat on the wings of the stage, held by Eldon, who gave me thumbs up. Maddi blew me a kiss, while Asha just smiled at me. My fathers grinned at me, and my heart thumped with my love for all of them.

I looked back out to the judges, my heart now contracting.
“Any moment now, Miss Willa.”

I looked out to the seats. And there she was. 

Averie blew me a kiss.

And I began to play.

At first, the music was slow and waking up, before it bloomed. I did not play a composed piece, that I had prepared. I played a piece I wasn’t that fond of—Mazeppa. I play it with my heart. I pour my love of Mason, and fondness of Mara and Melia and Mathew into it. I play the love for my pets, and the love for my brother. I play the love for my darlings, and for my father.

And I play the love for the girl in the seats, who sits and smiles at me. 

My Averie.

She is asleep at the moment, but it is nice to know she hasn’t left me.

When I finished, the room was silent.

One judge clapped.

I was dismissed.

Quickly, I darted off the stage and into the arms of my family, who kissed and hugged me and applauded my work. I started crying, and they held me and laughed. Asha said something that made everyone laugh and her beam—she loved when people laughed.

We left the auditorium, and made our way home.

“You did so good!” Eldon said, grinning, he had passed me my book.

I smiled. “Thanks Ed.”
“Ed?” He frowned.
“Isn’t that what you like to be called?”
“By everyone else.” He said, glaring at me. “You call me Eldon.”
I laughed, as did Asha who had been listening. Snow was caught in her pink loops of hair, and her nose was a icy pink. Maddi was beside her, drinking coffee and talking to Dave, who was laughing and Mike was laughing at them.

“Hey,” I said as we neared the hospital. “Let’s go see Averie.”
No one disagreed.

We went inside, and Martha gave us a toothy grin at the counter.

 “How was your audition love?”
“She was awesome!” Eldon said, beaming. “She’s gonna get in.”

Maddi said, “Of course she is, she is Willa Valentina Van Der Mariel.”

Mike looked to Dave, “Why did we call her that again, love?”
“I have no idea.”
“Hey!” I said.

Asha laughed. She had seemed to miss her boyfriend back home, Cole, and called him every day, where they had whispered conversations that Maddi was convinced was Phone Sex.

“What else could they talk about?” Was her argument. “Smiling?”
“Your cold.” I told her passing her the fairy lights for the tree. “But, I think your right.”

I couldn’t wait to meet him, and Maddi couldn’t wait to threaten the daylights out of him. I could already smell the sparks.

We stopped at Averie’s room, and all filed in. It came apparent that there was not enough room, and to Maddi’s bossy voice all the men left, leaving us three crowded around her in her bed. Maddi at the end, me on the right and Asha on the left. She was pale, and her brown hair was still spread out around her.

“What do you think she is dreaming about?” Maddi asked.

I smiled. “Faraway lands. Like her stories.”
Asha smiled as well, “Hey, Avey, Willa just did her audition and rocked.”
“She is so getting in.” Maddi said.

My face heated, “Thanks guys.”
“My pleasure.” Maddi said.

“Pleasure?” Said a voice that made me jump. “You haven’t changed at all.”
We all turned in shock.

Averie smiled at us.
“You better have my cream puffs.” She said to me, grinning.

I said the only thing I could say in that moment. “It’s Christmas. I don’t cook unfestive food, even for my sister.”

Averie bursted out laughing.

“Oh, my Willa, my memory of you isn’t shattered just yet.”

“Mine is.” Asha said, smiling and looking at me. “The memory of a violinist is gone, I see Willa now, a girl who plays the violin.”

Maddi said, “The shattered memory of a violinist. Now, ya’ll need to shut up. Your being way to dramatic and I really want cream puffs now.”