Strings Of Time

V

"The band was great, huh?" asked Cindy. "You should join them. I know how much you missed your music."

Elise smiled and looked down at the pavement, "I'm not even sure I'm still good at it."

"Well... you'll never know, Ely. That's why I wanted to introduce you to the best-man earlier. He's kinda like a local celebrity around here but I'm not sure. He could help you with your music. Though, you did made a scene at the weddin'... I'm sure he'll remember you." Both gals laughed as they walked hand in hand, "Tomorrow you should meet him at his office."

The following day, Elise had the courage to go inside the Henry Music Hall to meet with the best-man from the wedding. Cindy said he was expecting her. There were a lot of rooms that held classes for different types of instruments, each entrancing music echoed through the halls of the building and it was almost like a symphony. Elise bask herself with the beauty of music. It was always in her blood, in every fiber of her being and her spirit. As the young lady ventured inside the hall, she noticed a black and white picture that's hanging on the wall of a room. She was captivated and started walking towards the picture. As she draws near, she noticed that it was a life like drawing using a pencil. The picture was a silhouette of a girl playing the piano, the artist signed the picture with its initials.

"A.M." Elise whispered. When Elise turned around, she saw a piano that's covered with a dirty sheet. She immediately walked towards the piano and uncovered it. A sudden tear fell from her cheek as she touches her dear old infatuation. She knew it was her old piano. Her initials were embossed at the side of it. She smiled and sat on the piano stool as she opens the cover of the keys. "Can you still play in tune, my dear friend?"

On that fine day, Elise Summerhall was reunited with an old friend. She played a tune that was in her head for the past few days and hummed the song that goes along with it.

The young lady did not know that there was a man inside the room listening to her. He was just minding his own business as he looked into the archives of music sheets in that same room. The girl didn't even noticed him.

When Elise, finished her drafted song the man clapped his hands and startled the blue eyed girl.

"Brava!" said the man proudly as he walks towards Elise. "You my child, have a very good taste in music."

"Oh God. I'm so sorry I was just looking at the picture and saw my old piano..."

"Pardon? You must be mistaken. This piano has always been here after it was recovered from Old Ashton."

Elise looked away and bit her lip while she scratch her neck, she knew it would happen again, "Um, right. I mean, this particular design looks like my old piano where I came from."

"I see... I thought it was a rare find..."

"I'm sorry to barge in like this. I have to go..." said the young lady in a hurry to get out of that room.

"Wait! Elise Summerhall?"

Elise turned around with wide eyes, nervous that the man might have recognized her. "Yes? I think..."

"Hi, Um, I'm Henry Mathews. I believe you're Cindy's granddaughter?" said Henry as he reached in for a handshake with a dazed look on his face.

Elise was relieved and reached in for a handshake as well, "Y-yeah, more like a close friend."

"I'm very impressed with your skills. It's like you have your own technique. I'm mind blown right now. I thought Cindy was exaggerating but I was wrong." Henry was amazed by this stunning young prodigy. "Would you mind staying here for a session with my orchestra?"

Henry was about to lead her to a studio but then Elise stopped him. "Wait..."

"Yes?"

"I'm not sure about my role in there. I mean... I need a job, sir. Any job."

Henry smiled and placed both hand on his waist, "Just come with me, okay?" The man sat Elise on a chair and asked her to listen to his orchestration. "One more thing, I need you to close your eyes, child."

"W-why?"

"For you to hear the purity of music."

As the young blonde closes her eyes, the music started.

There is one thing that music can do to a person's soul. It could electrify you, give you goose bumps, or even imagine a different world. Music can also take you to a distant memory or warn you with an event. It can soar above your soul and hypnotize you with its melody.

And that is the exact reason of Elise when asked what she thought of the music. Henry agreed and was even more amazed of how much the girl knew about the history of music and how many old songs she knew.

After the session they went into an outdoor café so they could talk more about music.

"Sometimes, I can feel the music everywhere. It's like music is surrounding us. Even when I listen to the wind, I could hear notes and translate that to a music sheet. Is that weird at all?"

Henry was staring at this girl as if to study how passionate she was. He thought it was the end of his journey in searching for a great prodigy. The man beamed a smile with a certain plan in mind, "You mentioned earlier that you were in need of a job, is that right?"

Elise took a sip from her cup of coffee and nodded, "Hm, yes."

"Well then..." said Henry as he rests his back while crossing his arms on his chest, "I have job for you."

The young lady's face brighten and quickly got excited, "What is it?"

"I was planning a concert with my students but I always cancel it due to my schedule. It has been stressful lately especially with my daughter... but let's not talk about that." Henry took off his glasses and massaged his temple. He sort of drifted to a memory and quickly dismissed it. He took a deep breath and continued, "Um, what I'm trying to say is, I need you to be my assistant with composing an extra ordinary piece."

"Wow... Okay... That's something I could do... I guess? I mean, it's a big responsibility... but... I'll take it!"

"Great! You can start tomorrow then." Henry reached in for a hand shake as they both stood up to congratulate their new partnership.

"I'll be looking forward to that, Mr. Mathews." Said Elise with a smile as her bright blue eyes shine with excitement.

They were about to say their goodbyes when Henry called Elise for one last instruction. "One more thing, though... This has to be a secret... and you won't be working at the office down here."

Elise tilted her head sideways and smiled with a puzzled face, "Okay? Where am I going to work?"

Henry pointed at a place and smiled, "You'll be working there."

The young lady turned around to see where Henry was pointing at. Her smile suddenly disappeared and her jaw dropped, "Over there?" she pointed as well.

"Yeah, Hadleigh Hall. I live there. See you tomorrow!" Henry waved goodbye and got inside a Mercedes SUV and drove into the gates of Hadleigh Hall.