@amber_is_in_a_loop
Here it is:
Teresa gripped the polished wood, tight jaw lodged firmly in the chin rest as the audience flowed into the concert hall, the sound of hundreds of footsteps reverberating off of the domed ceiling above. Stomach knotted, she drew in a shaky breath— and she set the bow onto the quivering strings.
Her heart soared as the pure sound escaped her grasp and spiralled around the room. She heard only the chords, felt only the tremors of the strings, tasted only the unadulterated joy of the music.
The wind hurtled through the street, whipping her bare skin and tugging at her hair. She swept her hair back, forgetting the coffee cup in her hand; the scalding liquid poured all over her blouse. Letting out a squeal, she came to a stop.
“I’m home!” she cried happily, swinging her bag down onto the couch and pirouetting to the kitchen. Her mother’s dark head popped around the door frame, grinning.
“Happy birthday to you,” the latter sang in her charming soprano voice. The girl bounded into the pale green kitchen to the fresh smell of chocolate cinnamon cookies.
“You truly are the amazingest person,” she lauded her mother and kissed her on the cheek.
She absently registered the zebra-crossing beneath her feet, concentratedly dabbing at the spreading coffee stain on her blouse; the woman zoned out, internally debating whether or not to head home and change.
A startled yell sounded over top the city soundtrack, and she looked up to see a car racing towards her.
Teresa gripped her hands together and looked over only to notice her mother had tears in her eyes. The almost-grown woman’s shoulders shook with silent laughter and she grabbed her Mom’s hand. They held each other’s caring stare until the graduate had to look up and let go as her name was called. Tightening her billowing robes, she stepped up onto the stage, ignoring the echoing of her heeled steps through the hall.
“Congratulations,” the headmaster beamed, and handed her the golden diploma. Three one-armed hugs and a medal later, she was officially an adult. Thunderous applause burst from the audience.
Her eyes widened. Her feet were rooted to the spot. Was the car speeding? It looked like it was speeding.
Phillip got down on one knee. She stared. He gave her a cockeyed smile and took out a small blue velvet box. This instant, as so many others, woven into the fabric of this minute of the beginning of their lives.
“Oh my god,” she whispered.
He opened it to a simple silver ring crested with a small diamond. “Will you marry me?”
“Phillip, I… oh my god, yes. Yes!”
“Teresa!” Phillip screamed from the sidewalk. “Teresa!” He started running towards her, desperately pushing through the crowd, suddenly driving people to look around and realize what was going on. Everything blurred around her, and Teresa finally realized what was happening. She had just enough time to scream.
She choked on her breath, staring at the plastic test in her hand: a plus sign. A plus. It was a plus. She cleaned up and went to the living room.
“Phillip.” He looked up from his book.
“Tess.” She lifted her gaze to look at his impossibly blue eyes. “I got a plus.”
He narrowed his eyes in cluelessness as his gaze went to her hand. He mouthed the word, and slowly stood up as the realization hit him.
“Plus.”
Teresa gripped her swollen stomach, terror lodged firmly in heart as the frenzied crowd flooded towards the pivotal scene, the sound of hundreds of voices reverberating through her core— Her heart dropped as the deafening screech of tires broke out and spiralled around her immobile figure. She heard only Phillip’s panicked calls, felt only the tremors of the concrete, tasted only the unadulterated terror of the looming incident.
The sky was such a clear blue that day.
She finished the piece. She carefully lifted her bow from the strings and stood up to accept the raucous applause that now filled the room, filling her to the brim of her years with pride and racing adrenaline. She set her violin onto her stool and went centre stage to take her bows. Her mind filled with the audience’s appreciation, and a sweet smile split across her round face.
It was the side of the car that hit her the worst.
