Melody Between Us

The next morning, the streets of Zermatt were alive with their usual charm. Tourists bundled in winter coats wandered in search of souvenirs, and the distant sound of a street performer's flute floated through the crisp air.

Mia stood in front of Café Edelweiss, balancing her violin case and a bag of freshly baked croissants Greta had asked her to deliver to a neighboring hotel. Her thoughts, however, were consumed by her encounter with Lukas Reinhardt.

"Who does he think he is?" she muttered under her breath. "Calling my playing sloppy…"

She sighed, shaking her head. If she wanted to make it to the Montreux Classical Music Festival, she couldn't afford to dwell on his harsh critique. But his name carried weight—if anyone could help her refine her skills, it was him.

---

Later that day, Mia finished her shift and decided to take her violin to the woods just outside town. The snow-covered path crunched under her boots as she found her usual spot, a clearing with a perfect view of the Matterhorn.

She unpacked her violin and began to play, letting the melody of Meditation from Thaïs fill the silence. The music wrapped around her like a warm blanket, and for a moment, she forgot the world around her.

"You're playing too tentatively."

The voice startled her, causing the bow to slip against the strings. She turned sharply to see Lukas standing a few feet away, his hands in his coat pockets.

"You again?" Mia said, her tone a mix of surprise and annoyance.

Lukas raised an eyebrow. "I could say the same. Do you always play in the woods?"

"It's peaceful," she replied, setting her violin down. "And I don't have to worry about anyone critiquing me."

He smirked. "Clearly, that hasn't worked out."

Mia crossed her arms. "Why are you here?"

"I was walking," Lukas said simply, gesturing to the trail behind him. "And then I heard someone massacring a perfectly good piece of music."

Mia glared at him. "I wasn't massacring it."

"You were hesitating," Lukas said, his tone softer this time. "Music like that demands confidence, not hesitation."

Mia hesitated herself before responding. "Why do you care?"

For a moment, Lukas didn't answer. His gaze drifted to the horizon, where the sun was beginning to dip behind the mountains. "I don't," he said finally. "But if you're serious about that audition, you'll need more than raw talent."

Mia's heart leaped. "Are you saying you'll help me?"

Lukas sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Let's get one thing straight—I'm not doing this out of the goodness of my heart. You'll have to work hard, follow my instructions, and accept that I won't sugarcoat anything."

A smile broke across Mia's face. "Thank you! I won't let you down."

"Don't thank me yet," Lukas said. "We start tomorrow, 6 a.m. sharp. Meet me at the café."

Mia nodded eagerly, watching as Lukas turned and walked away, his figure disappearing down the trail. She picked up her violin, her hands trembling slightly. For the first time in weeks, she felt like her dream might actually be within reach.