The First Musical: Preface

Sunlight spilled between gaps in the clouds, momentarily blinding me as I jogged down the steps of my building. This was the place; this is where I would find her. I didn’t know who it would be, or how long it would take, but I knew I would. A group of girls passed, giggling conspiratorially under their breath. None of them were her, I was certain. I would know when I saw her, I knew that much.

Glancing behind me at the red brick exterior, I couldn’t help but feel this was right. I had found the script—unknown to this changed world. It seemed a miracle it had been in my family all these years, that it was mine now. Soon, it would belong to the world again. They would know its magic and stand in awe at its complexity and amazing simplicity.

But not without her.

She would be the only one capable of bringing it to life. To create a spell of wonderment enveloping the audience. Without her, there was nothing but chaos; with her, she would orchestrate the chaos that brought the script to life. She would hold it together and create the world, the music, the mood…everything. She would determine the ending and how everyone interacted. Her spontaneity would spark creativity in the cast, and present the show that would never leave the audience with the same experience twice.

It was my birthright to find her.

Elemental: Preface

There are times in life when you say or hear something you don’t understand. There are others when you feel something unexplainable. Then, the favorites, times when no matter what happens, you feel it was your fault. But you can’t take anything back. Life is one huge, complex roller coaster and you either choose right then or someone chooses for you. Either way, once you’ve flown past the moment of choice, there is no turning back.

That Halloween night, I wish I hadn’t said anything; then Nick never would have thought something was wrong. I wish I never had stumbled across Drei and Valetta’s conversation, since I hadn’t stopped thinking about what she had meant. Going further back, I wish I had never been born an air elemental, whether the world needed me or not. It made me sensitive and insensitive to others. I didn’t know what I was doing, let alone what needed to be done. There was no manual for how to make things right. Just as there is no manual to life.

I keep thinking, what if I had never kissed Nick? Or trusted Drei? Would I be happier, or would I just be worse off?

One thing was for sure: I’d never know.

All I would ever know was how it turned out. And Jake was right. Everyone is held to his or her promises; even if you never say, “I promise…”