Sometimes playing a simple note on the piano could come so easy to Angela. It took nothing to open up the piano, take one finger and press down on one note firmly enough so the piano gives off a sound. A beautiful sound that is. A sound so gorgeous, her world stopped and she wanted to do nothing more than just to listen to it. One note and it could change her whole day. One note and her whole mood was lifted. One simple note on that beautiful instrument was all it took to change the course of her day.

That sound made her appreciate the love she had for the instrument, the admiration that grew inside her for the instrument and the appreciation for its existence. She connected to it like electricity goes from plus to minus, from positive to negative. It made her smile, it made her happy and it made her think about all the times she preformed well, impressed her teacher or practiced the piece she loved the most. That one note meant everything to her.

But then there was also the fact that on that exact note, that one simple note could ruin her day completely, making her hurt and cry because of that beautifully sounding note. It could make her whole body ache. It could make her wish she was dead. That one note made her head hurt with all the possibilities of mistakes, disconnection, numbness and anger. It made her body tingle, her chest ache, her head hurt and it was hard to breathe. That one simple note could suffocate her whole day, her body.

Isn't it weird how something that small, something that smple could have such a big impact on your whole day, your whole body, your well-being? It took courage to play that first note, to press that key to the end and focous on the sound it provided. It took pride, it took confidence. It took everything from her to play that one simple note. It didn't matter which, it didn't matter how or with what pedal. She just needed to choose one and play it.

And so she sat there completely still behind the piano, staring at the black notes on the white sheet of paper. If only it were that easy, to just lift up your hands and play what was written. If only it was that easy to enjoy the music that was written to be played beautifully, dramatically, confidently, to understand why it was written the way it was. To understand the music and let it connect to your heart.

Years ago when she chose piano as the love of her life, never did she imagine she would end up sitting behind it with no motivation or patience to play it. No hope or dreams. No love, only hate and resentment towards the one thing she loved truly. Funny, right? It used to be her everything, her joy and her favorite way to express what she was feeling. And now? It was a burden, she got anxious each time she looked at it or opened her sheet notes. She was afraid of the mistakes, she was afraid of the monotony, she was afraid of the connection that had to be there with the instrument. Because she lost it, she lost it all a while ago and now it was becoming too late to pick it back up.

But she sat there anyway, despite that feeling in her chest that made her wish she would get up and leave. Leave that stupid room behind, leave those keys and melodies where they belonged - away from her. She wasn't even able to play one note, let alone practice her pieces. She sat there, lost and angry. Angry at the fact that something that came so easy to her before was now extremely hard to do. And lost with the fact that she now had no connection to the instrument she loved.

Minutes spent sitting behind that piano felt like hours. While it used to be the other way around. She used to practice for hours a day, six or more and it was normal, natural and easy. But now it was torture. Angela sat there, staring at the black and white keys and the black notes on the white paper. She sat there for so long that her back started hurting. Partially because she wasn't sitting straight as well. Funny. The basics of piano playing is the posture. And she couldn't even do that right.

Her back hurt and the chair was getting uncomfortable, so Angela got up and closed the piano. Enough sitting behind it for now. So then she did what she usually does after unsuccessful practice - scroll on her phone until she realizes she just spent way too long on it. She pulled out her phone from the pocket of her pants and sat down on a different chair, the one next to the wall. She rested her back against it and unlocked her phone.

First app on her list was Facebook. She always checked for any status updates of Kissin, or any other preformers or composers, or even music competitions and other organizations. She liked to know what was going on in the music world even though she wasn't exactly a part of it lately. Nothing major on Facebook.

Next, Instagram, her favourite app to spend time on. From funny reels to stalking people, it was the perfect app to lose yourself in. Immediately after opening it, she noticed a notification in the top right corner. A new follower. She clicked on the profile to see who it was. It looked like drums? She wasn't sure. The picture was blurry and way too saturated to see what it was supposed to show. The username was no help either, it being drummerguy420. Well at least she now knew it was drums on the picture.

So Angela scrolled down the profile, trying to find any pictures that would indicate to who this profile belonged to. And she found it, on a picture the person was tagged in. Owen. A small smile appeared on her face when she finallz realized who it was. He followed her. Cute. Not wanting to be a total stranger, she hit the follow back button and went to check her messages. A few reels from her sister and Kaitlyn, nothing major.

Angela sat there, watching those short funny videos one after the other while the clock was ticking away. Until it was almost time to leave the music room she was in. Checking the clock, she noticed she had twenty minutes left in her three hours of time. Sighing, she knew she wouldn't touch the piano either way, so she got up and put her phone away then gathered all her sheet notes and put it in her bag. It took her a few minutes before she was out, locking the door behind her and walking down the corridor of the music school to find the janitor.

She saw him leaning against the entrance door, opening and closing behind students, younger students who couldn't push the heavy door on their own.

"Here you go, Mr. Brady," Angela extended her arm and gave the janitor his key back. "Thank you for today."

The janitor smiled and took the keys, nodding in her direction. Angela fixed the strap of her bag on her shoulder then walked through the door that the janitor ploitely opened. Thanking him, she started walking out when she heard the janitor speak up.

"It's not really my place, but you've been coming here for a few months now..."

Angela stopped and turned around, placing her hand on the strap she fixed before and gripped on it, as if the grasp would make her more steady and prepared for the question that followed.

"I haven't heard you play one time. Did I misunderstand something? Are you not here to practice?"

And there it was, that question. She hated that question, she hated explaining or lying why she hadn't touched the piano. She didn't even know it herself, so how was she supposed to explain it to him?

"I do, I practice. I write down my fingerings and practice mentally behind the piano," Angela lied. Why did he even care? There were so many students, so many people renting rooms to practice, so why is he focoused on her?

"You know, only practicing mentally won't get you far. Plus you can do that at home. Why pay money to have a room here and not touch the piano?"

Angela looked down at her feet, the grip on the strap tightening. That was exactly what she was trying to avoid each time. It took so much courage to even reserve a room, to even pay for it and come every day despite not wanting to practice. She tried every day. And now she got asked the same question she has been posing to herself. Why bother?

"I know. Thank you Mr. Brady." Her voice was quiet and calm, though she was not at all calm inside. She wanted to tell him to mind his own business, to tell him off, to leave the school and not come back. But she didn't. She just turned around and started walking away from the school and on her way home. She had to get ready for her shift soon. She was working in the afternoon.

---

"Hey, you know what was Beethoven's favourite fruit?" Angela's coworker, Andrew cheered happily, sneaking up behind her back in the fruits and vegetables isle while Angela was sorting out the strawberries, checking which were rotten and which were still good.

"Bana-na-na," Andrew laughed and showed a banana to Angela, to which she only chuckled and rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard that before. Now leave me alone, I'm searching for a berried treasure here."

Andrew laughed and jerked her shoulder whith his palm, "Nice one. I'm off to a break if you want to join me. I heard Marge is making cappuccinos today. Yay!" And with that the blond haired man in his thirties was gone from the isle, leaving Angela looking though the strawberries. It was a habit between them, making puns during their work just so could get some kind of entertainment during those long hours. And she liked it. She liked having someone to joke with and who didn't pry in her personal life.

Once Angela reached the peach section, she thought about Andrew. There was one pun she didn't tell him yet. Taking out her phone, she took a picture of the peach section and posted it on her Instagram story with Andrew's profile tag and the words I a-peach-iate you!

Chuckling slightly to herself, she put her phone back in her pocket and went back to work, sorting out the peaches. She was there in that isle until she felt a light touch on her shoulder from another coworker of hers. "Come, you know if you don't go on a break now, you won't have one."

Nodding, Angela let go of the peach she was holding in her hand and took the gloves off. She threw them in the trash and followed her coworker behind the supermarket where a few cups of cappuccinos were waiting on the workers.

"Oh, Angela, good! I need you to work at the register until the end of your shift. Kelly is leaving eraly so she won't have the time to count the change. So you're up!" Angela's boss announced immediately after walking out on the fresh air. "Drink up your coffee and go."

At least she could drink her coffee, right? Nodding at the orders, she reached towards one cup and took it between her hands. Andrew offered her a cigarette which she gladly took and lit it. The boss left and now there were only a few workers left in the group, some still working in the supermarket.

"Busy day, huh?" Andrew sighed and took a puff of his cigarette.

"I had to stock the freezer and now I have to work at the cash register, too? I hate today..." Angela whined and took a sip of her coffee. Only two hours passed in her shift, there were still six more to go. And knowing where she was needed next, she knew she wouldn't be able to take another break. She was screwed. There was no one to replace her.

"I have to clean the bathrooms today. Oh, and the bakery, too. And Marge was working there today so it's probably a whole shit show there," Andrew complained back, taking another puff. He has been working there since Angela could remember. Each time she went to that supermarket, even before she worked there, she saw him smiling and greeting the customers, beeing his happy, cheerful self.

"I hate the bakery more than the bathrooms," Angela replied. "It's so messy, all those marvles from the bread, and the overbaked pieces leaving marks everywhere..." She took a hit from her cigarette and a sip of her coffee before he boss opened the door, peaking through and looked directly at Angela.

"Why are you still here? I told you I need you on the cash register."

Angela immediately threw the cigarette on the ground and stepped on it then set her barely touched coffee aside. Without a word she left Andrew behind and followed her boss inside.

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Hello everyone, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. It was more of a look inside her every day schedule for now. We will continue soon with something more interesting. Stay tuned!

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