A brand-new memory stood before me.
Young Aria, Lewis, the other musicians, and Miss Sofia were gathered in the training room for what would be their final rehearsal before the competition.
Miss Sofia stood in front of them with her arms folded and a smile on her face.
"I know I've worked all of you to the bone," she said, looking around the room. "But I still have to ask."
Her smile widened.
"Are we ready to win?"
"Yes!" they answered.
She pointed dramatically at them.
"Are we ready to win tomorrow?!"
"YES!"
The room echoed with excitement.
"Good." She laughed. "Today's our final training before the big day, so let's make it count."
Turning to the keyboardist, she pointed.
"Key us in."
The opening notes of Beyond Control filled the room.
"The violin," she instructed next.
The violinist joined in, adding another layer to the melody. For a few moments, the instruments played alone before Miss Sofia finally signaled Aria.
Aria took a breath and began to sing.
Lewis joined her without needing to be told.
Everything blended together perfectly.
The harmony.
The instruments.
The melody.
It no longer sounded like a group of students practicing for a competition.
It sounded like a performance.
Months of hard work had finally paid off.
When the final note faded, Miss Sofia quickly wiped at her eyes before anyone could tease her.
"Perfect," she whispered.
Then she laughed and shook her head.
"No, really. Perfect."
The pride in her voice was impossible to miss.
"Now I know you're ready for
tomorrow."
Before anyone could react, she pulled them all into a group hug.
Groans immediately filled the room.
"Miss Sofia!"
"You're crushing me!"
She only laughed harder before finally letting them go.
---
After rehearsal ended, Aria sat on one of the benches packing away her things.
She was still lost in thought when Lewis approached her.
"Eve..."
He froze.
Then quickly corrected himself.
"Sorry. Aria."
She heard it.
Yet pretended she didn't.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
Lewis hesitated.
"Have you always been passionate about singing?"
Aria picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder.
"Yeah. My mom and I were always singing Evelora's songs together. We—"
"If your mom wasn't a fan of Evelora," Lewis interrupted, "or music at all... would you still be passionate about singing?"
The question caught her completely off guard.
She opened her mouth.
Closed it again.
For the first time, she couldn't find an answer.
"I..."
She looked away.
"I don't know."
Then she frowned.
"Why are you asking me that?"
Before Lewis could answer, another voice interrupted them.
"Aria?"
Both of them turned.
Marie stood nearby.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Aria blinked in surprise.
"Of course."
Lewis immediately understood and stepped away.
"I'll see you later."
---
"Wow," Aria said awkwardly once he was gone. "It's been a while since we've talked."
"Yeah."
For a moment, neither of them knew what to say.
Then Marie sighed.
"I've been thinking about everything."
Aria immediately knew what she meant.
"Marie, you don't have to—"
"No."
Marie shook her head.
"Let me finish."
Her voice was quiet now.
"I overreacted."
Aria stared at her.
"I shouldn't have said those things."
Marie looked down at the ground.
"I know you're spending time with Lewis because of the competition. I know that now."
She forced out a small smile.
"Maybe when all of this is over... things can go back to normal."
Aria felt her throat tighten.
"Maybe we can hang out again like we used to."
Tears filled Marie's eyes.
"I've really missed you."
Aria laughed weakly through her own tears.
"Me too."
Without thinking, she stepped forward and hugged her.
"I missed you a lot."
Marie hugged her back just as tightly.
When they finally pulled apart, Marie smiled.
"And another thing."
"What?"
"You have a beautiful voice."
Aria laughed.
"Thanks, but it wasn't all me."
"I know."
A knowing smile crossed
Marie's face.
"Evelora helped, right?"
Aria smiled sheepishly.
"But you're still the one singing."
Marie tapped her shoulder.
"You're the one who practiced."
Another tap.
"You're the one with the voice."
And another.
"So maybe it's time you give yourself some credit too."
For a moment, Aria didn't know what to say.
Then Marie smiled.
"Good luck tomorrow."