Empty Symphonies I
Camila
I wasn't someone who got stage fright.
Crowds didn't make me nervous, in fact- I liked the attention. Performances were just between my music and I.
But I'd be lying if I said the thought of Alejandro watching didn't make me anxious. So anxious that I couldn't do any of my pre-performance rituals.
Instead, I was glued to my dressing room chair, applying my lipstick and making sure I looked absolutely perfect for my performance.
I was going to be doing a solo, which meant that I was going to have all his attention.
Would he think I looked beautiful? Would he think I was any good? Would I lift my head and catch his eye mid performance? Would he then smile at me?
I couldn't stop thinking about these scenarios. I'd think myself to be pathetic if I weren't so distracted by the excitement of him seeing me play.
I hadn't talked to him after telling him I'd reserve him a seat, and when it was time to go home, he'd disappeared with Greta.
Marco had mentioned how they were heading off for a couple hours, something about Greta dragging him away. I could do nothing but accept it, she could have him for those hours and keep him busy until the show started.
Marco on the other hand had adapted as my personal body guard of sorts. For what? I had no idea, but he was with me everywhere I went since that night of the college party.
Which only led me to believe there was something more going on. But I pushed it to the back of my mind because I had more important things to worry about.
Like my performance.
It may have been a little pathetic, but I didn't mind Marco's company. He didn't say much, and most of the time stood broodingly in the corner of every room I was in. And for someone that was a giant, he was quiet.
I twirl the two front strands of my hair that naturally fall loose from my hair that's pulled back in a low bun as I stare at my reflection one last time.
A simple black gown, my favourite pair of Jimmy Choo's with diamond detailing to compliment the diamond on my wrist from mamá's bracelet.
My good luck charm.
Whoever said money didn't buy happiness clearly never knew what it felt like to have diamonds.
I look back at Marco who is standing by the door starring ahead. "Is it busy out there?"
He gives me one single nod. "Full house."
"Really?" My eyes move towards the door as I bite down on my lower lip. "I hope Alejandro gets in fine. I know he doesn't like large gatherings and there might not be room for an entourage - it was hard to get just the one ticket alone on short notice. Do you think I should text him?" I try to keep the worry out of my tone, but fail miserably.
What if he can't find his seat? I reserved the spot in the front row for him, but the opera house fits well over five thousand people. He could get overwhelmed by the-
"Capo can handle himself." Marco says walking forward as I spin in my chair and stare in the mirror. "Focus on yourself." He comes up behind me and his steady gaze meets mine through the mirror.
I smile up at him.
He purses his lips and after a brief moment he steps back, pulls his phone from his pocket and begins to slip out of the room. "devo fare una telefonata guarderò dal lato del palco."
(I need to make a phone call, I'll be watching from the side of the stage)
With a nod, I watch him as he leaves, only pausing by the door to look back at me, his face growing almost uncomfortable. "Good luck."
"Thank you, Marco Polo!" I call after him, giggling when I hear him growl under his breath at the nickname.
I I liked making him mad, it was fun.
Only, I'm then interrupted by my music teacher who pops into the room, her wild gaze landing on me. "Ms. Rodriguez, why aren't you up on stage? You're next!"
Music folder in hand, I check myself out in the mirror one last time before scurrying through the complete chaos that is backstage and towards the main stage.
I hesitantly peek through the side of the stage which gives me a good enough view of the audience here as I take in the crowd.
The stadium is filled with people. I've performed in front of bigger crowds but that still doesn't equate to the nerves bunching up in my stomach at the thought of the only person in the crowd that mattered.
I fiddle with mamá's bracelet as I scan the front row, noting how the seat closest to the stage is still empty.
Alejandro's running late.
"What are you doing?" I heave a sigh when my music teachers voice sounds from behind me. "T-minus two minutes till show time Gia. Go, go, go!"
"I can't." I cast another nervous glance out there. "My guest is running late."
"Then they can walk in later, you can't keep five thousand people waiting when you're closing the show." She scolds and my frantic panicked gaze turns to see Marco who is making his way towards me, the look on his face stone cold.
He catches my eye, "His phone is going to voicemail." My brows furrow, "But im sure he's just stuck in traffic." He then nods towards the stage."Go play."
I give him a weary nod right before I'm dragged out to the front stage as the curtains close.
My grand black piano is rolled onto the stage, and I set up my folder on the stand before taking my position on the bench. I was playing two of my own symphonies tonight and luckily it was only just me and the piano.
The speaker begins to do my introduction and I square my shoulders and straighten my posture.
"For our last act we have a solo performance to bring an end to our night. Please welcome Camila Rodriguez. We ask that you hold your applause till the end of the performance, thank you."
And with that, the curtains draw open, the spotlight blinding me. Silence washes over the entire hall as they wait for me to begin.
I don't normally glance up until the end of a performance, but I cast a quick glance to the seat in the front row.
Alejandro's empty seat.
I turn to the side of the stage where Marco stands to see him starring at me. He nods once, and despite the gesture being faint, it gives me the assurance I need to begin.
Alejandro would just have to walk in and hear half of it.
My eyelids flutter shut and I let the muscle memory take over as my hands find the right keys, knowing that he'll be there cheering for me when I finish.
With that single thought, my mind clears and I'm submerged into a world of music. My music.
Worries fall behind, thoughts circulate around the rhythm, and the steady beat of my heart guides me through it all.
I'd been composing this piece for weeks before mamá died and I was finally able to start finishing it last week.
No one's heard the entire thing yet, and I was curious as to what they'd all thing seeing as it was much slower and darker than my other pieces.
Mamá would have loved it, she was always telling me how I needed to put more emotion into my music, and so I did.
Both symphonies go hand in hand. The first, starting the silent story off with heaps of base and tension, the movement harsh and fast.
But the second symphony is what ties the pieces together. The movement dies down, the tension runs off until it's nothing but a soft wispy melody.
One that reminds me of warm days at the beach with mamá. The cool breeze, the calmness of the waves mixed with the light swish of our feet gliding through the water as we walked along the shore.
Of her smile, of her laugh.
Of her.
And by the time I hit the last note, two small, nearly invisible tears glides down the apples of my cheeks and land onto my fingers that still their movements.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
