To the spring that Broke my heart

1

"I'd have a stable full of Arabian steeds, rooms piled with books, and I'd write out of a magic inkstand, so that my works should be as famous as Laurie's music. I want to do something splendid before I go into my castle—something heroic, or wonderful—that won't be forgotten after I'm dead. I don't know what, but I'm on the watch for it, and mean to astonish you all, some day. I think I shall write books, and get rich and famous; that would suit me, so that is my favorite dream." Josephine March, Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott

Prologue

"Come on Celeste! We're gonna miss the bus if we don't leave now."

Celeste gazed up at her friend as she put away her violin with a tender care, blushing ever so slightly from embarrassment from being called out of her daydream. The day had been rather boring with studies for the upcoming finals for school and her violin practice after school, so with all of the stillness of the day her mind was bound to wander. Dreaming of adventure and coming into her own in college and in the world so Celeste could blossom into the woman she envisioned herself to be.

Her mother's view of her, however, was a strictly fine path towards success and a rich life similar to her own, no time for discovery of one's self on this path if it did not fall in the goal of which Celeste's mother set up for her. This oppressive control over her daughter only seemed to get worse after her father's death a year ago. More classes, more private studies, more after school programs that were made to make Celeste appear even more desirable to future colleges. So, with all these new adjustments made to her schedule, it was almost a miracle when her mother agreed to allow Celeste to continue her violin lessons. Sure, having musical talents with a classical instrument looks wonderful on a college transcript, however her mother never saw the reason to invest any time into music for any purpose. Not like her father.

Celeste's father loved music and introduced her to the world that it brought with it. The way the keys painted the world in her mind and drew out the feeling of the environment and the people within the world. He taught her music made up the world and shaped how people see and interact with those around them. Now with him gone, Celeste had been feeling that her music was missing something, and no matter how much she played she could never seem to find that spark again. So Celeste played her heart out to not only find that missing piece, but also in hopes of feeling that familiar closeness her father once gave her.

It didn't help that her mother remarried 6 months after her father had died. She had always suspected that her mother had been having an affair, but when Kyle moved in with them 3 weeks after her father had died of cancer, Celeste knew. Kyle hated Celeste. He treated her like shit whenever he saw her. She was the stepdaughter, and Kyle made sure that she knew it. Any time that Celeste was not in her room, Kyle made sure that it was her problem.

"Sorry Dree, I was actually planning on walking home tonight."

"It's literally sundown right now! By the time you'd even get halfway it'll be pitch black out there, and I do not want to explain to the police how my sweet and innocent best friend's body is hacked up all over the highway. Just come with me and ride the bus home so we can both avoid the wrath of your other." Audrey said, reaching out to her friend hoping to get Celeste to start following her to their destination.

"I'll be fine, besides I found a shortcut to my house not too far from her so you don't have to worry." Celeste said as she pulled herself out of Audrey's reach. This wasn't technically a lie but it wasn't the truth either, she did find a path from the music program that led to her house but it was more of a "longcut" home rather than a shortcut.

Recently, she had started taking the long way home to avoid Kyle as much as possible. The added benefit of these "longcuts" was that she was able to listen to the living music of the forest. Celeste craved the sound of the cool night breeze dancing against her ears as the night creatures called out to each other in union with each other.

"Are you sure? I don't recall any shortcuts nearby." Audrey asked as she packed up her bag and started walking to the door with Celeste, still with a concerned look on her face.

"I'm sure, I've actually been using it for a few weeks now, never been late once. So you really don't have to worry about me Dree, I'll be fine. You just need to worry about getting yourself home on time."

The two walked together in understanding silence as they made their way towards the bus stop. The streets were fairly empty with the occasional car passing the two girls by every few minutes which illuminated their way. From the lights of these cars Celeste was able to get a look at herself and Audrey in the shop window's reflection. She was an attractive enough looking girl in her own opinion, with her light brown hair and soft pale skin that seemed to almost glow in the light, but she wasn't a beauty compared to some of the other girls in town. Combine the fact that there were prettier girls in town with the fact that she always had her nose to the grindstone and it resulted in no guy in the area even glancing in her direction.

Not that she really cared that much for romance. She had always been a painfully practical girl. There was no purpose for romance in her life, ergo it was unnecessary. Oh sure, it would be nice to have someone to love and to be loved by, but with everything else that she had going on? No, romance and the entanglements that came with it were utterly pointless and best left on the pages of Audrey's novellas where they belonged.

They reached the bus stop and Audrey sat down, "Last chance to join me on the bus Celie! I brought my headphones, we can listen to that new single from the Powdered Wings."

"Sorry Dree," Celeste replied with a look of apologetic remorse, "I really just need to walk home tonight. It's... Kyle again."

"Oh. Nevermind then. Walk home, clear your head," Audrey flashed a sympathetic smile, "See you at school tomorrow? Don't forget, we have a Student Council meeting before school tomorrow too, so don't be late."

"I won't miss it, I promise!" Celeste waved goodbye to Audrey and left the bus stop heading for her "shortcut" through the woods. The sun was going down in the manner of a painter, brushing strokes of fire across the autumn leaves as it departed the skies. As Celeste walked, the sunswept flame swiftly turned into the cool hues of night and its silvery watchmen began their nightly vigil one by one.

Celeste watched the stars as they winked into existence. The stars had always held her fascination ever since she was young. There was peace in their cool light, music in the way they shimmered. Some of her favorite pieces to play were written to represent the stars. Her father had called the stars the messengers of the muses and had often taken her out into their quiet backyard with special flashlights, blank score sheets and a telescope to write music. Those little backyard "camping trips" were some of her dearest memories.

As she walked in silence, she found herself wishing that she had a blank score sheet with her now. The rhythm of the night was calling to her. Her father had always called it a spell. That if one listened hard enough, they could hear the magic of the world calling to them, begging them to work it with their own two hands. She always listened intently as he told her tales of the stars and how they each sang their own song, worked their own spell. Her mother had always berated her father for telling her these stories, she thought that telling Celeste these stories would lead to her head being too far in the clouds.