3.
After that call, I took a cab home.
As soon as I walked in the door, my mom
called, getting straight to the point.
“I’ve arranged a solo concert for you at
Carnegie Hall at the end of next month.
Get ready, and don’t embarrass me.”
I carried my violin case inside, fumbling for
the light switch in the dark hallway.
Then, quietly, I said, “I’m not going.”
On the other end, my mom’s voice exploded
with disbelief and anger.
“What did you say? Don’t forget, your
grandmother’s ashes…”
く
I hung up on her before she could finish the
sentence.
My step–sister, who is my dad’s daughter,
just had a piano recital in London last week.
That’s why my mom was so desperate to get
me on stage.
After unpacking, I crawled into bed.
Moonlight streamed through the sheer
curtains, spreading across the floor.
I remembered a time, years ago, when
someone held me close, whispering over and
over.
“Tori, honey, you don’t seem happy.”
<
“Tori, sweetheart, what do you want?
Anything, okay?”
His voice and his face flickered in my mind.
I fell asleep dreaming about the year he told
the whole world he loved me.