A Melody to Stay

Episode 4: The Night Before

It had been a long week before they played for Julian Harrow. Ezra and Liam were both filled with nervousness as they watched the clock go past, full of excitement and moments of uncertainty in their minds. The pressure was so intense that both of them had to try their best to avoid it. The weight of the task was slipping, and as they approached the performance, their fears began to surface.

Despite his confidence, Liam couldn't shake off the anxiety that had taken hold of him. He had always believed that music was his passion, but now, with someone like Julian present, the stakes were more elevated. It seemed as though he was experiencing failure.

In contrast, Ezra was facing significant difficulties. Confidence had always been a challenge for him, and the idea of performing in front of someone so powerful was almost impossible to overcome. He'd been faking his entire life to escape, but now he was faced with the possibility of having to confront those same expectations. He was unsure about his readiness.’

The night before performance and both of them were feeling. It was raining in the late afternoon and by evening raindrops crashing against the windows of Orion's Strings created a soothing, almost contemplative atmosphere. The shop was quiet as the last of the customers had already left for the night. Liam and Ezra were absorbed in their surroundings and sat on the couch in the backroom, preoccupied with their preparations.

With a silent expression, Ezra stared at the rain outside and exclaimed, "It's too good to be true today!".

He was sitting next to Liam with fingers scraping the strings as he carefully tuned his violin in an absent direction: “It will not be easy, but we practiced. It’s so comfortable. We've done everything we can. Our only option is to believe in ourselves.’

Ezra admitted his lack of confidence in their ability to handle the task, shaking slightly. "I've been avoiding this level of scrutiny for years.".

I am uncertain if I have met the standards. What if I fail?”.

With a soft voice, Liam glanced at him and placed his hand on Ezra's shoulder. "You're not running now, Ezzor," he said. “Don't have to face this alone.". Whatever happens, I'm here for you. We're in this together, okay?”.

With a quick-eyed look, Ezri closed his eyes and looked towards Liam. Liam had a genuine authenticity in his eyes that was beyond words. Liam's offer was not solely a message of encouragement, but also accompanied by an assurance. A commitment that they would face this together, regardless of the outcome.

Ezra's voice was so vulnerable that he couldn't quite capture his true self.

Liam squeezed his shoulder. "You don't have to be someone else, Ezra.". You simply need to be who you are. That's what matters. That is the highest standard that can be expected.'".

He said: 'I closed my eyes for a moment, because I know what you meant. Maybe Liam was right. It's possible that his perfection wasn't required. It's conceivable that he wasn't required to satisfy anyone else'. Or, "All I wanted to do was play the music, play it with my heart and trust that this will be enough."...

There was a lot of silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable. A hushed agreement was reached that acknowledged the fear of failure and unpredictability, but also agreed to face it together.

Liam eventually broke the silence. "We can play a game for ourselves tonight.". No pressure. No audience. Just us.”.

With a twinkle in his eye, Ezra looked straight at the guitar and laid down beside him. Initially, he was concerned about the potential risks, but the idea of playing something for himself and his partner made him feel more at ease. He nodded. “Okay. Just us.”.

A simple and slow melody was played first by Liam who then stood up. The piece they had practiced before was different tonight.' It felt personal. It seemed as though the music was a reflection of everything they had encountered, including their doubts, fears, and hopes.

Liam's violin and Ezra' s guitar blended, creating a peaceful sound that seemed to be transcending into the music. All their other parts were in harmony. Their understanding was so unambiguous that no words were required to convey their feelings. But they didn’t have to be flawless. They were not required to attempt all possible solutions.' The only thing left was for them to be together, playing music that came from their hearts.'...

The last note fading into the quiet room gave Ezra a long breath, leaving him lighter than usual. He glanced over and noticed Liam smiling with a slight sense of pride.

Ezra expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, stating that it was wonderful. "Thank you," he added softly.

With a gentle smile, Liam nodded and acknowledged the fact that we had played for them tonight, regardless of tomorrow's circumstances. And that's enough.”.

That week, Ezra felt 'peace' over him for the first time. ". Despite the nerves remaining, they didn't feel as heavy and the fear of the unknown still felt strong. But he didn't have to carry it himself.

Whatever fated tomorrow was, they would face it collectively.'