Chapter 16
The bubble burst.
But when it did, Darren couldn’t quite tell. He had been so preoccupied with the winter reprieve and Jayden, he had woken with no recognition of the apathy. He had put it down to tiredness, or the dreary winter morning, or the prospect of no entertainment because Ethan was at his aunt’s wedding today and Paul was having a bust-up with his girlfriend. It wasn’t until he raised the bow in orchestra practice and cut a note so badly mangled he wasn’t sure which string he had touched that he realised.
It sounded like it came from another room.
The jarring note made him hyperaware. He could hear himself apologise, retune the string, test it, and start again. He could feel the smooth wood of the bow in his hand and the weight of the violin on his arm and shoulder.
