Page 92 of Play Me

And I think my heart almost explodes with love in that moment.

Behind the crowd I can see a makeshift stage, and on it, my kids, my school orchestra, jumping up and down and screaming my name.

I turn to Jenny, speechless. Jenny just grins and runs up onto the stage and takes her place in the orchestra.

Sarah breaks from the group and comes up to hug me.

“Oh my god. What is this?”

She just smiles and points towards the stage. Everyone follows her lead and turns to see the principal standing there in front of the microphone.

“Miss Cadence Bray, the school orchestra, and I and everyone at the school want you to know how much we value and appreciate all that you have done to bring music into our school and hearts.”

He waves to me and then turns toward the orchestra.

“I’ve waited so long to tell you this, it didn’t feel right until your teacher was here, but Miss Bray singlehandedly raised over $50,000 for the school music program, which means that you will all be going to the Nationals this year in Canberra!”

I watch as the entire orchestra jumps up and starts screaming and hugging each other. I think my face almost splits from grinning with pride, I just want to run up there and join them.

Sarah, as always, can read my mind, and gives me a nudge. “Go! Go to them! You belong up there, this is your moment.”

I run up through the crowd of people and up onto the stage, the kids running over and we all embrace in a great big group hug. I barely even notice the tears streaming down my face. I’d missed them so much the weeks I’d been away, worried about how they would feel about me when it was time to come back. Seeing them now, so happy, the worry and insecurity gone from their faces, it made it all worth it. I glance up at the sky for a moment and mouth a silent “Thank you, Sebastian.” He and he only made this possible.

“And one more thing...” I hear Greg start to say and the kids suddenly all sit back down in their places, picking up their instruments. “The school orchestra now would like to thank Miss Bray and their parents with a special performance. Miss Bray, will you join me in your VIP seat?” He grins at me and points to a chair by the front of the stage.

I saunter over and give Greg a little pat on the arm, I can’t help but feel more lighthearted than I have in weeks. The joy of my kids is contagious, and I just let myself become drunk in it.

I sit down and I watch as Timothy, one of the band leaders, comes to the front of the stage and takes up the conducting spot. He mimics me calling for silence and attention by doing a special wave of the conductor’s baton and putting his index finger to his lips, and everyone who’s seen me do it at the school performances laughs. He turns and winks at me and I poke me tongue out at him, secretly proud.

He lifts his arms and everyone is silent in anticipation.

And then they start to play.

From the first note, it’s beautiful. This orchestra I’ve created from students who are here by the power of nothing but their own passion for music. It’s so beautiful I just lose myself in it for a moment.

And then I realize, what they’re playing it’s a piece we’ve never practiced before.

But it’s a piece I know like the beat of my own heart.

No. How can they....no.

I shake my head, but the notes keep coming, sweet, simple, pure notes, like...I’ve said it before, like moonlight over water.

They’re playing “Cadence’s Song”.

And just as my eyes draw tears from my aching heart, a giant cheer erupts from the crowd. I’ve heard that cheer before. I look up, my breath catching in my throat.

It’s them. Jez, Marius, Brad.

But no Sebastian.

And my heart sinks.

I watch as the three members of the Rock Chamber Boys stop centre stage, position their instruments and join in with the orchestra. Their parts ring out clear above the band, and even in my disappointment, I can’t help but fall in love with their performance.

How had they even arranged to do this?

And how had they done it, without him?