Then we will find out.
Eleanor sat beside him.
Marcus, do not prepare for the audition by trying to become someone else. Prepare by becoming more capable of expressing what you already understand.
He nodded.
They began.
---
The following weeks became the most demanding period of Marcus's life.
He woke before sunrise to practice scales.
At school, he completed his assignments during lunch whenever possible so he could spend more time studying music in the evening.
He worked on the Beethoven sonata until the opening passages became familiar beneath his fingers.
Then he studied the Chopin piece, breaking it into smaller sections and practicing each one slowly.
Eleanor taught him how to identify technical problems before they became habits.
She made him analyze the harmony.
She asked him to explain why a phrase should grow louder, why a pause mattered, and why certain notes needed to stand out while others remained in the background.
Sometimes he answered correctly.
Sometimes he could only shrug.
When that happened, Eleanor did not criticize him for failing to understand.
She asked another question.
Then another.
Eventually, he began discovering the answers himself.
But progress was not always smooth.
There were evenings when his hands felt clumsy and his mind refused to concentrate.
There were mornings when he woke exhausted and wondered whether he was sacrificing too much for a dream that might never come true.
On those days, he remembered his father's words.
Find something you love enough that you forget to be afraid of it.
He was beginning to understand that loving something did not mean fear disappeared.
It meant learning to work while the fear remained.
---
At the Grand View Center, Janet continued facing pressure from Gerald Hastings.
The manager had received instructions to monitor her work more closely, though he did not explain why.
He began documenting minor issues.
A cleaning cart left in the wrong corridor.
A delay in preparing the VIP lounge.
A supply order submitted later than expected.
None of the incidents justified dismissal on its own.
Together, they created a record that could be used against her.
Janet recognized what was happening.
She also knew that confronting Hastings would probably make things worse.
She continued working carefully.
But she began keeping copies of her schedules, messages, and performance reviews.
She had spent years believing that being quiet and dependable would protect her.
Now she understood that silence did not always protect the people who had the least power.
Sometimes, it simply made them easier to ignore.
---
The Harrington Foundation's evaluation took place in a rehearsal room at the Grand View Center.
Marcus arrived forty minutes early.
He wore a dark blue suit that Janet had borrowed from a family friend. The sleeves were slightly too long, and the trousers required a careful fold at the bottom, but the suit was clean and neatly pressed.
His mother had polished his shoes the night before.
Eleanor met them in the lobby.
Good morning.
Marcus tried to smile.
Good morning.
How are you feeling?
Nervous.
Excellent.
He blinked.
Excellent?
It means you understand that the performance matters to you. Now we must make sure the nerves do not make decisions for you.
She adjusted his collar.
Remember what we practiced. Breathe. Listen. If you make a mistake, continue.
Marcus nodded.
They entered the rehearsal room.
A grand piano stood beneath bright overhead lights. Several chairs had been arranged behind a long table, where the evaluation panel would sit.
Vincent Harrington was already there.
He wore a dark suit and carried a folder.
When Marcus entered, the maestro glanced at him briefly.
Mr. Williams.
Good morning, sir.
Are you prepared?
Yes, sir.
Harrington looked toward Eleanor.
I trust you understand that the panel will evaluate him according to the same standards as the other candidates.
That is precisely what I expect, Eleanor replied.
Harrington's expression remained neutral.
Two conservatory faculty members entered the room, followed by Daniel Whitmore.
Introductions were brief.
The candidates would perform one at a time.
Marcus was scheduled third.
He sat in the waiting area with his sheet music on his lap.
The first student performed a Mozart sonata.
The second played a technically demanding piece by Liszt.
Both were impressive.
Marcus listened carefully, noticing the confidence with which they moved across the keys.
They had clearly received formal training.
Their hands appeared relaxed.
Their posture was natural.
They understood how to use the instrument.
For a moment, Marcus felt the old fear returning.
He was not like them.
He had not attended a conservatory preparatory program.
He had not performed in competitions.
He had learned music alone, with the occasional help of videos and library books.
He had no certificates.
No prestigious recommendations.
Only the work he had done.
Eleanor noticed his expression.
Tell me what you heard in the first performance.
Marcus blinked.
What?
The Mozart. What did you notice?
He considered the question.
The phrasing was very clear. The pianist controlled the dynamics well, but I thought the second movement could have been warmer.
Eleanor nodded.
And the Liszt?
Very technically strong. The fast passages were clean, but some of the quieter sections felt rushed.
Good.
She looked at him.
You are listening to the music rather than comparing yourself to the performers. Continue doing that.
Marcus took a breath.
The second candidate left the room.
Daniel Whitmore appeared in the doorway.
Marcus Williams?
He stood.
Yes, sir.
You're next.
---
The panel sat behind the table.
Harrington occupied the center chair.
Eleanor sat to one side, not as a judge but as an observer.
Marcus approached the piano.
Please state your name and the pieces you will perform, Daniel instructed.
My name is Marcus Williams. I'll be playing Beethoven's Pathétique Sonata, followed by a piece by Chopin.
He gave the title of the second work.
Harrington glanced at his notes.
How long have you studied piano?
Since I was about eight, sir.
With a teacher?
No. I began teaching myself. Ms. Whitaker has been working with me recently.
How recently?
Several weeks.
Harrington raised his eyebrows.
And you believe that is sufficient preparation for today's evaluation?
Marcus felt heat rising in his face.
No, sir. I know I have a lot to learn.
Then why are you here?
The question was blunt.
Marcus looked at the panel.
Because he had been invited.
Because he loved music.
Because he wanted a chance to learn.
He chose the simplest answer.
Because I want to improve, sir.
Harrington leaned back.
Very well. Begin.
Marcus sat at the piano.
He adjusted the bench and placed his hands above the keys.
For a moment, the room seemed to shrink around him.
Then he began.