Title: Songs of the Soul
Author: Jennifer G.
Category: Drama
Rating: Strong PG-13 to mild R
Summary: When a young and promising violinist is brutally raped, will Monica be able to break through the wall of guilt and pain to teach her how to live again?
Disclaimers and Author's notes:
As usual, I don't own them and I promise to put them back when I'm done, with minimal damage. Don't sue me, you won't get anything from this poor college student anyways, LOL.
This story focuses on a rape and the aftermath caused by it. While the attack itself is fiction, the healing processes and aftermath Dana goes through is largely based on my own story. Rape is a crime of power and control, and it has absolutely nothing to do with sex. Its sole purpose is to injure, humiliate, and take away control and safety. Rape is not the fault of the victim, and the victim can do nothing to prevent it. But, for the women who have to live through it, believing these facts is most of the battle. My hope with this story is to spark awareness, and to tell other people who have been through this that you are not alone. You are never alone, and you can get through this. For help, contact the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) at www.RAINN.com, or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE. There are people at the hotline who can help get you on the road to recovery. They helped me.
Now, on with the story. (
PROLOGUE
Monica and Tess stood at the back of a grand looking music hall, watching as the orchestra on stage tuned. Monica looked around at the surroundings, taking in everything from the high ceilings with the ornate chandeliers to the marble pillars supporting the gold trimmed balcony. It was made to look like an opera house from the early 1900's, with high box seats lining the walls, and emerald green velvet on the seats. The stage was made of perfectly matched, honey colored wood, polished to a gleaming brightness. Stepping into the theater was like stepping back in time - transported to another place by the room and the music. The two angels watched as the orchestra conductor tapped his baton against the music stand to get the attention of the musicians. With a single flick of his wrist, the conductor brought the orchestra to life, sending the beautiful music reverberating through the great hall. The notes written by Beethoven so many years past were alive again, and the sound flowed throughout the musicians and their angelic audience alike.
"Listen to that sound, baby," Tess said. "There's over 100 people up there, using the gifts God gave them."
Even though the younger angel generally didn't like assignments involving music, Monica smiled at Tess' remark. As she turned her attention back to the orchestra, one person in particular caught the angel's eye - the concertmaster. She swayed with the beat of the music as she played, as if the notes flowed through her very soul before being brought to vibrant life on her violin. "That woman plays with a lot of passion, doesn't she, Tess?" Monica commented, "It's almost as if the music is coming straight from her heart."
Tess nodded, "Yes she does, baby. That's Dana. She's been given many gifts, and she uses them well. Dana is a very talented violinist, one who's always been able to really feel the music as she plays it, and that's made her one of the best."
"I can see that," Monica said. She watched Dana play for a moment longer before saying, "This is going to be an easy assignment."
Tess looked at her charge quizzically, "Oh really? And just what makes you think that, Angel Girl?"
"Well, I'm just here to tell Dana that she's using the gift that God gave her well, and that He's pleased, right?"
"Far from it, baby," Tess said, shaking her head. "Something's going to happen to Dana that will change her life, and you need to be there when it does."
Monica looked surprised, "What?"
"I don't know," Tess replied. "But I do know you will know what you need to know, when you need it. Monica nodded slightly and took a deep breath. This assignment was already making her nervous, which was punctuated by a chill running down her back that made her shudder.
"Oh, and one more thing, angel girl," Tess said as she bent down to retrieve something at her feet, "Your audition is at 11:00." She finished her remark by handing a speechless Monica a violin case and a piece of music.
Author: Jennifer G.
Category: Drama
Rating: Strong PG-13 to mild R
Summary: When a young and promising violinist is brutally raped, will Monica be able to break through the wall of guilt and pain to teach her how to live again?
Disclaimers and Author's notes:
As usual, I don't own them and I promise to put them back when I'm done, with minimal damage. Don't sue me, you won't get anything from this poor college student anyways, LOL.
This story focuses on a rape and the aftermath caused by it. While the attack itself is fiction, the healing processes and aftermath Dana goes through is largely based on my own story. Rape is a crime of power and control, and it has absolutely nothing to do with sex. Its sole purpose is to injure, humiliate, and take away control and safety. Rape is not the fault of the victim, and the victim can do nothing to prevent it. But, for the women who have to live through it, believing these facts is most of the battle. My hope with this story is to spark awareness, and to tell other people who have been through this that you are not alone. You are never alone, and you can get through this. For help, contact the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) at www.RAINN.com, or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE. There are people at the hotline who can help get you on the road to recovery. They helped me.
Now, on with the story. (
PROLOGUE
Monica and Tess stood at the back of a grand looking music hall, watching as the orchestra on stage tuned. Monica looked around at the surroundings, taking in everything from the high ceilings with the ornate chandeliers to the marble pillars supporting the gold trimmed balcony. It was made to look like an opera house from the early 1900's, with high box seats lining the walls, and emerald green velvet on the seats. The stage was made of perfectly matched, honey colored wood, polished to a gleaming brightness. Stepping into the theater was like stepping back in time - transported to another place by the room and the music. The two angels watched as the orchestra conductor tapped his baton against the music stand to get the attention of the musicians. With a single flick of his wrist, the conductor brought the orchestra to life, sending the beautiful music reverberating through the great hall. The notes written by Beethoven so many years past were alive again, and the sound flowed throughout the musicians and their angelic audience alike.
"Listen to that sound, baby," Tess said. "There's over 100 people up there, using the gifts God gave them."
Even though the younger angel generally didn't like assignments involving music, Monica smiled at Tess' remark. As she turned her attention back to the orchestra, one person in particular caught the angel's eye - the concertmaster. She swayed with the beat of the music as she played, as if the notes flowed through her very soul before being brought to vibrant life on her violin. "That woman plays with a lot of passion, doesn't she, Tess?" Monica commented, "It's almost as if the music is coming straight from her heart."
Tess nodded, "Yes she does, baby. That's Dana. She's been given many gifts, and she uses them well. Dana is a very talented violinist, one who's always been able to really feel the music as she plays it, and that's made her one of the best."
"I can see that," Monica said. She watched Dana play for a moment longer before saying, "This is going to be an easy assignment."
Tess looked at her charge quizzically, "Oh really? And just what makes you think that, Angel Girl?"
"Well, I'm just here to tell Dana that she's using the gift that God gave her well, and that He's pleased, right?"
"Far from it, baby," Tess said, shaking her head. "Something's going to happen to Dana that will change her life, and you need to be there when it does."
Monica looked surprised, "What?"
"I don't know," Tess replied. "But I do know you will know what you need to know, when you need it. Monica nodded slightly and took a deep breath. This assignment was already making her nervous, which was punctuated by a chill running down her back that made her shudder.
"Oh, and one more thing, angel girl," Tess said as she bent down to retrieve something at her feet, "Your audition is at 11:00." She finished her remark by handing a speechless Monica a violin case and a piece of music.