The Chairs Between Us

Music is powerful. It can take you away from your problems in the world. With every note on the page and every stroke on the string, it can take you on a journey.

Life is like music, you can get stuck with an out of tune mess or a beautiful work of art.

For me it's all out of tune.

My name is Dominic and I am a violist. This is my first day in the senior orchestra at my high school. It is also audition day for the seat assignments.

Orchestra auditions get me so nervous. Like seriously you are getting judged by everyone in the room and then they call out all your mistakes. It is torture.

My whole orchestra was sitting in the theater watching auditions but, I am sitting alone in the lobby going over my piece. My heart was beating so fast and my hands were sweating. I have always done better on my own like this.

Just calm down Dominic.

Our conductor told us we all have to preform Suite No. 1 from J.S. Bach which, I hate because it is the stereotypical orchestra piece.

I could hear the faint sound of a violin playing it. Until, it was stopped after they played a wrong note. My heart began to beat faster and faster.

I plugged my headphones into my iPod and blocked out the world.

Thank god I didn't forget this today.

The music made time go by faster and my stand partner form last year, Ali, snapped me back into reality, "I thought you would be out here... It's time for you to warm up."

Already!

I have been in an orchestra with her since 6th grade. The only reason she was my stand partner is because my conductors thought she would hide me from the audience.

Like how horrible is that. They rather hide me than teach me.

I got up off the ground and picked up my trashed viola case which, I customized with dozens of stickers I have found over my years of playing.

Ali laughed when she saw how I was visibly shaking. She patted my back, "I will see you when you are finished. You will be fine."

She walked backed into the theater, leaving me alone again. I slowly made my way to the warm up room.

Our warm up room is very small. There is barely enough space for one person. I never really liked small spaces so, it made my heart beat faster.

After 10 minutes, it was time for me to get on stage.

I walked through the dark back stage. My footsteps began to sound louder than everything else. It was getting harder to breathe and my heart was pounding out my chest. I stepped out onto the bright stage. My dark, wood viola shined in the light, making it look black. I took off my sleeveless leather jacket and dropped it on the ground next the music stand.

My breathing began to slow down as I lifted the bow to the string.

Relax, just get through it.

I pulled down the bow creating a rough sound. My mind went crazy.

Calm down, this song is supposed to be soft and pretty.

My playing got faster like a roller coaster going down a hill. Making me drop my bow, hitting the stage with a loud bang. My body pick it up and grabbed my jacket. I ran off into the wings and into someone sending me to the ground. My eyes adjusted to the darkness, a boy with blonde hair and black glasses was looking down at me.

Oh god, I ran into Liam!

Liam is always first chair. He never fails auditions and everyone looks up to him. He helped me to my feet, "Jesus, you made that song sound horrible. Why do you even audition?"

He laughed and walked on stage. Everyone cheered.

He is also a major jerk.

I packed my viola in it's case and went to hide down in the orchestra pit. The audience was still cheering in the theater. Tears ran down my face as I reminded myself of what just happened.

Liam began to tune his viola and the audience quieted. As he began to play his audition, I stopped crying. His tune was beautiful like his viola was singing to him. I looked up at him from one of the holes in the stage. He was dancing with his instrument. I was in awe as the song echoed throughout the pit. His viola was a part of him and no one could stop it. He sparkled and made everyone feel joy.

Why can't I inspire someone? Why can't I play with emotion? Oh yeah, I can. It's just emotions I don't want to feel.

When the song was completed, there was silence until the note faded away then, everyone burst out in applause.

I wanted more. I want to play like him. I want to inspire people.