The Music Within
etter lay scattered across the floor, b
t to info
t. No matter how many times she told herself to shake it o
l, untouched. Just this morning, she had traced her fingers over its strings, humming
er laugh bubbling in her
er language when words failed. But
d stood abruptly. The air in her
reeze slap against her skin. It smelled like rain, the kind that washed
ing her out of her thoughts. Shine, who had
Wanna
avering optimism, the way she believed in Maya's talent ev
red the
g through her. She had poured everything into her music. Every late-night practice sess
htly. The wood was smooth, familiar beneath h
e, she lifted it and sho
closed it. She dragged the case to the back
f her
door as if expecting it to fight back. But it didn
them into fists, forcing herself
sn't m
. Find something else
en right. Maybe music wi
through her chest like she was b
the door ma
ay
r
ng at her damp cheeks before t
mom called gently. "
avoiding her parents would only raise suspicion, and the last t
and pulled t
canned her face, her expres
shrug. "Someth
e a small nod toward the dining room.
fries filling the air. Normally, the smell would have ma
he table. Her dad smiled at her f
ed a weak s
in front of her, but the sight
oat. "So... did you hea
htened on her f
g. For a brief moment, she considered lying, sparing
ed. "I didn
hed long enough to
ing across the table to squeeze Maya'
is nose, his expression u
ld no humor. "Yeah, totally fine. Dream cr
her a knowing
tended. "It's not like I'm the first person
owly. "You will,
nced. And that stung more
esn't mean it's over, you know. One schoo
t. She knew they meant well. She kne
now, it di
, she didn't feel lik
t felt.
ng pasta around her plate until it
r room, she collapsed onto th
ne buzz
you're ignoring me
would show up uninvited if she didn't respond. That is how far she
gh, she t
ay. Just nee
came i
u know, rejection letters a
ll warmth breaking
eel like a s