I hurried down the narrow, cobblestone streets, pushing through the large crowds that always seemed to occupy the road. It had been way too long a day at work. All I wanted to do was go home and withdraw from the busy world. My energy was waning at a rapid pace. I was faint, wondering if I could even make it home. I glanced down at my wrist. A small, musical note on my charm bracelet peeked out from beneath my sleeve. I smiled to myself, pulling my sleeve down. You will make it home, I told myself. Then you'll feel better.

I opened the archaic door to my house and entered. An uncomfortable tightness settled in my head, prohibiting any form of concentration. Although I needed to finish up a few things for work, there was something that needed to be done first. I headed up the long flight of stairs, each step getting more difficult. Finally, I reached the uppermost room in my house, the most secluded place in the whole house.

I shut the door tightly. My eyes scanned the room quickly. Even though I lived alone, it was a nervous habit that I found impossible to break. I crept over to the alabaster chest in the corner of the room. I lifted the lid gently, like touching a bubble that you don't want to break. With one more glance around the room, I lifted my viola from the chest. My hands clutched the instrument, its very presence calming me down. Already, I was starting to feel better.

I placed my hands on the string and lifted the bow. I took in a deep breath of the spruce wood. My fingers began to move, my right arm sweeping up and down the string in long, sweeping strokes. I felt my eyes close as my senses took over, my fingers automatically pressing the notes of the first Bach Cello Suite. I knew the piece inside and out, upside and down. The tension in my head released as my fingers danced across the string. My hand slipped in and out of position, fluid and effortless.

Soon, I was no longer playing. I was on another realm, a place of peace and tranquility. My worries were gone, I had nothing to fear. I was drifting in the air, floating on a cloud. My body moved with the music, swept up in the sweet melody.

The piece ended all too soon. Time flies when you're playing Bach. But it wasn't enough. Playing my instrument was never enough. I wished with all my heart I could just play the instrument all day long, not ever having to leave my little upstairs room.

But I knew that would never come true. Just one more song, I decided. Then I'll go.

I went into a quick rendition of Concerto No. 3 in C Minor by Seitz. I just needed a few more minutes of peace before reentering the world. The jig wouldn't last long, but it was enough to quell my music cravings. My fingers knew just where to place themselves in order to make the cords ring. My bow brushed the strings quickly, filling the room with energy.

I hit the last triumph note with gusto, the whole house vibrating from the sound. For a moment, the music echoed off the empty walls, just like it always did.

"FREEZE!"

Fear gripped my chest. My fingers curled around my instrument while my heart which started beating a million miles an hour. I closed my eyes. It's just a bad dream. It's got to be a dream. Slowly, I felt my body turn towards the intruders.

It was just as I feared. Three guards stood in the doorway, guns trained on me as if I were a dangerous criminal. They didn't waver in their stance. There was no chance of getting let off the hook. I was going to pay for my actions, and that price was the worst possible price that could possibly be paid.

The head guard pulled out a scroll. "By the decree of his imperial majesty..."

This couldn't be happening.

"...no music shall be performed..."

My eyes shut, trying to bury themselves back in the music I'd been playing.

"...even in the private homes..."

My lip trembled, tears threatening to fall.

"...the object shall be destroyed..."

My grip on my bow tightened, the wood digging into my skin.

"...not let this happen again."

The officer's dark eyes offered no condolence, no sympathy. They were empty pits of duty to his majesty. They weren't the eyes of a loving, caring human. He was a monster about to steal any joy that I once possessed.

The guard stalked towards me. I hugged the instrument to my chest.

"I promise it won't happen again! I swear it!" My eyes pleaded with him to stop, pleaded with him to leave. He didn't care. He grabbed hold of the viola and bow and tore it from my arms. I cried out. My hand reached out to snatch it back, but my nails only scratched the surface.

SMASH!

The officer threw the instrument to the ground. My jaw went slack, but nothing escaped my lips. I could only watch in horror as the officer slammed his foot into my instrument. Splinters flew all over the floor. And in a few fluid strokes, my bow was snapped in pieces.

"Let's make sure this doesn't happen again, shall we?" the officer said. One of the other officers shoved the remains into a bag, and then they were gone. The house went still.

I wanted to look away, but I was too stunned from the incident. I could only gaze helplessly at the last remaining fragments. I felt like everything had just been taken from me. My joy, my passion, my life—there was nothing left for me. I felt my knees give out, and I let myself crumple to the floor in a fit of sobs.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as a flood of emotions was released. I was angry at the officers, I was angry at the King, and I was angry at myself. I should have fought back, I should have made them let me keep it!

The silence was suddenly interrupted by a burst of uproarious clapping. I screamed, grabbing the shoe off my foot as a weapon. My heart rate spiked. What else did they want from me? They'd taken everything that ever meant anything.

I turned to see a man standing in the corner of my room. My brow furrowed. I sat up straight to survey the area where he stood. He couldn't have entered through the door, I would have seen him enter. All that was in that corner was a painting of a forest.

"Hello there," he said. His voice was mellow, the opposite of the men that had just been here.

"How did you get in here and what do you want?" I asked.

"I just wanted to congratulate you on your marvelous playing," he said. My heart burned with sorrow and anger. The very mention of the thing I lacked was torturous.

The man approached me, his long, black robe swishing as he moved. I froze, the questions starting to arise. Who was this man? What was he doing in my house?

But my initial concern quickly waned. What did it matter? I had just lost everything. I had nothing of importance.

"Take what you want," I cried. "I have nothing of value."

The man raised his eyebrows. "Not even that beautiful viola that you were just playing?"

My face contorted as the tears returned.

"It's...it's..." I couldn't get the words out. They were interrupted by a river of tears. I buried my face in my hands and just cried and cried.

After several minutes passed, the tears dried up. There was nothing left in me, no more to cry. I took in a deep, shaky breath, trying to calm myself. The man just watched me, unsure of what to do to ease my pain.

"I'm sorry," he said finally. "I...I didn't know. I just heard you playing a few moments ago, and I..."

"They took it!" I yelled. The man's eyes widened in surprise at my outburst.

"Who did?" he asked.

"The soldiers," I said, my voice laden with grief. "They took it because I was breaking the law."

"What law?"

"The law that no one may play any instrument," I told him. My sadness was turning to anger. Anger at that despicable King, whose heart was of ice and who wanted his Kingdom to be just as miserable as he.

"Ah, I see," the man said. He stared down at me thoughtfully, stroking his floor-length gray beard. I hugged my knees to my chest. It's going to be OK, Selene. You will get through this.

I knew that the reassurances were not true, complete and utter lies. I wouldn't be able to get through this. I wouldn't be able to go on living without having my precious music in my life.

Suddenly, the man's chin snapped up. A smile spread across his face, a big jovial smile. For a moment, I thought everything would be alright. For a moment, I thought he might have the solution.

But what could he do? I realized. He's just a random stranger...who's in my house...

"How did you get in here?" I asked.

The man's eyes sparkled with delight. To my surprise, he pointed to the painting hanging on the wall.

My eyebrows knit together. There?

"That's a picture," I stated.

"But not just any picture. Behind is something far greater than I think you would ever imagine. Would you like to see?"

His offer was tempting, but at the same time, I didn't know him. How could I trust him?

But then again, what did I have to lose? I hated this world, and the only thing that brought me joy was gone. It couldn't hurt to just take a peek, could it?

"Alright," I agreed. "I'll go."

I followed him to the painting. The man took my wrist.

"Jump on three," the man said. "One, two, three!"

I jumped. My surroundings went black, the room gone. Air streamed around me like a suction, moving us forward at lightning speed. Oh no! What have I done?

My eyes shut, fearing what lay ahead. How could I have been so foolish as to trust this man? He's a stranger!

And then, all went still. The air turned cool and crisp, refreshing to my lungs. My eyes fluttered open to the sight of a beautiful forest a few yards away. Gray-blue trunks craned their trunks upward. Tiny pink and purple flowers blanketed the ground. I looked around for the strange man, but he was nowhere to be found.

Hmm, that's odd.

I stepped towards the forest, relishing in the beautiful scenery. As I came closer, I began to hear a faint melody. My heart skipped a beat. Music? Were there musicians in this forest?

I ran into the forest, excitement bubbling in my chest. The sound of instruments grew louder and louder, echoing off the trees. But when I reached the forest, I found no musicians.

Realization hit me. The trees were the musicians, playing a symphony through leaves and branches and bark. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever heard in my entire life. Tears filled my eyes, not of sadness, but of joy. This was where I belonged.

From behind the bough of one of the trees, the man from before emerged. A million questions raced through my head. But what caught my attention was what lay in his hands, for he held a shiny, new viola.