Page 115 of Encounter

Looking around, I saw people clapping and smiling, and judges writing stuff down.

I did it? Where did all that time go?

The presenter made his way toward me, so I quickly jumped up, nearly tripping over the piano stool. My heart still pounded in my chest, but this time the sensation was pleasant and thrilling, soft. I did it. I didn’t even make a mistake, not that I had noticed.

“That was Galen De Clare, ladies and gentlemen!”

As happy as I felt with myself, I couldn’t wait to get away from everyone’s eyes, so I aimed right for the backstage as soon as the presenter gestured to me. On the way there, I noticed the violinist, anxiously bouncing on her tippy toes to go next.

Smiling, I touched her arm briefly when I passed. “Good luck.”

I knew there was no chance of me winning, and someone like her—with their charming star presence—deserved it ten times more.

Walking by everyone else preparing in the small space, I sat down on the leather seat in the corner and folded my feet to the side with a deep sigh.That’s it. You really did it.

Now, all I had to do was wait.

?

Come on. Come on, come on...

Finally having the time to look properly, my eyes continued to dart through the audience as the presenter did his final announcement before the results—thanking the sponsors, contestants and so on. As absurd as it was, I didn’t care about winning anything at all. I didn’t care about the second place, or the third, not really.

All I wanted was to see him there. To see he came for me—because it would mean that even if I disappoint him, even if I’m not what he imagined, he’d still take the time to at least be present.

But I couldn’t see Dad.

Between all those proud, excited, friendly faces, he wasn’t there.Fuck... Nineteen years old, and I still feel the exact same way, like the first time he stopped coming to the concerts.

Closing my eyes briefly to prevent any tears trying to push their way out, I pressed my lips together and steadied my posture. He was never going to come. I knew that. Deep down, I knew.

Someone waving in the audience caught my attention, making my heart skip. It wasn’t Dad, but Zola. Excited and beaming, she kept waving and giving me thumbs up.

I flashed a brief, anxious smile at her and nodded, thankful she was there. I could at least count on someone keeping her promises.Though Dad never promised anything, anyway.

The younger boy who played last passed by me to accept the third place award from the presenter. I barely heard the announcement. Even the claps and cheers were muffled and distant.

Falling into that damn hole again... because of him.

I glanced toward the fire entranced at the opposite of the room behind the audience, halfway considering escaping like some runaway bride. As I moved my eyes over the pillars supporting the empty balconies above, something caught my attention. A figure, large enough to warrant all of it, to capture it almost immediately.

I knew those wide shoulders, the full, dark beard, but for a moment I couldn’t believe it.

Chast?

Doing my best to not hang my mouth open in shock, I could tell he saw me notice him. His lips shifted into that familiar, cocky smile.

When he gave me a little wave, I knew he really was there. With a blink, the sounds rushed back into my ears, and the world became real again.

Chast came to see me. Was he there for the whole thing?! Did he hear me play?

I moved back at the last second to make space for the very girl that tried to help me as she passed me on the way to get her second place. We locked eyes for a split second, and there was nothing but happiness in hers. No disappointment or grief—she was proud of her accomplishment, and rightfully so.

With second and third places taken, there was no hope for me. The young woman playing cello, and the other male pianist were way too talented for me to even measure up to them. The thought of Chast having to see me fail—not to mention the entire audience—clouded my mood, but I tried to take it in stride.

When I heard my name, I drew my brows together.What?

Someone to my left was nudging me toward the presenter, and all of the eyes in the audience were somehow aimed at me.

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