Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
But as Clayton walked away, his steps faltered slightly, a sign of the hurt he tried to mask.
Leila noticed the stumble, but she pretended not to. She simply turned back toward the children.
Sophie had been standing off to the side and watching Leila’s entire exchange with Clayton.
While Calvin and Elma were busy flying a kite and giggling without a care in the world, Sophie slipped closer to her mother. “Mom,” she whispered, her voice laced with a mix of sadness and hope. “I miss my dad. But… I just want you to be happy.”
There was a brief pause before Sophie added shyly, “Mr. Morgan is really nice to you. I think he likes you.”
Leila immediately understood what Sophie was hinting at, and a faint smile spread across her face. “Sophie, don’t overthink it. I didn’t turn him down because of you. It’s just… I don’t have feelings for him.”
Leila had long since passed the stage in her life where a romantic relationship was a necessity. Though thoughts of Landon sometimes crept in during the quiet hours of the night, stirring sadness, her current peaceful life with her children was all she needed. She had no desire for anything else.
Sophie tilted her head, her eyes searching Leila’s face.
“Really?” she asked, her voice soft but curious.
Leila smiled, giving Sophie’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Yes! Would I ever lie to you?”
The words were simple, but Leila felt a swell of emotion rise within her. Sophie, always so intuitive and mature for her age, never failed to touch her heart.
Leila’s love for Sophie had never wavered, but lately, she couldn’t give Sophie as much attention. Elma’s fragile health consumed so much of her time, pulling her attention away from Sophie. Guilt weighed heavily on her.
However, Sophie had never felt aggrieved or resentful. She accepted things with the quiet grace and understanding that made Leila love her all the more. Leila felt Sophie’s arrival in her life was a blessing.
No matter what challenges lay ahead, Leila was determined to protect her three children and keep them happy.
That afternoon had been a rare moment of joy for the whole family, a brief escape from the heaviness that had surrounded them lately.
Elma, in particular, seemed transformed by the simple joy of playing outdoors. Her cheeks were flushed, and her hair damp with sweat, but her smile was wide and genuine-something Leila hadn’t seen in far too long. For Elma, moments like these were few and far between. Her childhood had been defined by restrictions. She was kept indoors, away from the fun and freedom other children took for granted. Kite flying and amusement park trips, full of hearty laughter, had always felt like distant dreams.
In the past, Betty had kept Elma company, easing her loneliness with stories and the strange, wonderful things she had brought from the outside world. But now, even Betty was gone, leaving a shadow of uncertainty in Elma’s heart. The joy of the day was real, but it couldn’t completely mask the ache of missing Betty. Everything felt surreal to Elma, like a dream she never wanted to wake up from.
The day had worn Elma out, and she soon dozed off, her small body slumping uncomfortably in the car seat.
Leila glanced at her sleeping daughter, her heart softening. Without hesitation, she scooped Elma into her arms, cradling her gently. Elma stirred but found comfort nestled against her mother’s chest. Leila freed a hand to wipe the sweat from her daughter’s brow, sighing softly.
“You’re drenched, but you didn’t say a word. If you catch a cold, it won’t be good for you.” Her tone was tender, filled with love rather than scolding.
Half-asleep, Elma felt warmth and safety in her mother’s embrace. It was like being wrapped in a soft, protective blanket, and she made no effort to resist. Instead, she snuggled deeper into Leila’s arms, wrapping her small hands around her mother’s waist, seeking the comfort she had missed for so long.
Leila smiled, gently patting Elma’s back, lulling her further into sleep.
When Elma woke again, she was tucked snugly into her bed, her clothes freshly changed, and her body free of the sweat from earlier. Groggy and a little disoriented, Elma sat up, blinking in the dim light of her room. A quiet thought whispered in her mind, a realization so soft it almost felt like a spell. “Is this magic? I finally have my mom with me now.” A soft smile spread across her lips.
Day after day, the concert hall buzzed with the melodies of different musicians. Determined, Sophie attended the concert each day, never missing a single performance. Hoping to increase her chances of winning, Sophie made an effort to get to know the other competitors, studying what made their performances different from her own.
Leila thought Sophie played beautifully, but she didn’t discourage her from attending the concerts. She was glad to see Sophie’s dedication and willingness to put in the effort. She just had to make sure Sophie remembered to take breaks and not push herself too hard.
Elma, unlike her sister, quickly lost interest in the concerts. After going a few times, she found them dull. To keep Elma entertained, Leila asked Calvin to take her out for a fun day.
As always, Leila made sure bodyguards discreetly followed Calvin and Elma to ensure their safety. The memory of the last incident still lingered in Leila’s mind, making her cautious.
Every day, Leila accompanied Sophie to the concert, offering her support.
One day, while backstage, Leila and Sophie overheard an argument. The harsh words cut through the air like knives.
“This is a place for the best,” one voice sneered. “And you clearly don’t belong. Just look at that beat-up piano of yours! It’s probably not even worth fifty thousand dollars. It’s an embarrassment to have it here.”
The speaker sounded like a child, probably around Sophie’s age.
When the first voice quieted down, a second, much more timid voice responded, “I didn’t realize there were rules about what kind of piano we could use.”
The first speaker sounded even more disdainful. “Of course you didn’t. You shouldn’t even be here. You must have cheated to get in. Get out of here. Take your cheap piano and go, or I’ll tell someone to kick you out.”
Close to tears, the timid girl begged, “Please, don’t do that! I worked so hard to get here. Please don’t make me leave.”
It was customary for the young competitors to be accompanied by their parents. However, Leila and Sophie couldn’t detect the presence of any parental voices near the timid girl.
The timid girl’s desperate sobs echoed from within the room, tugging at Leila’s and Sophie’s heartstrings.
Sophie cast an inquiring look up at Leila.
Leila offered a reassuring smile and a gentle pat on Sophie’s head. “Go on in, sweetheart. I’ll be right behind you.”
Emboldened, Sophie pushed the door open and stepped into the room.
The two recent speakers were standing face-to-face. Several other individuals, likely competition staff, were also in the room.
A strikingly beautiful girl of mixed heritage wore a haughty expression, her demeanor radiating arrogance. The other girl, dressed in simple attire, dabbed at her tears with a timid vibe.
The biracial girl raised an eyebrow impatiently as Sophie swung the door open. “Who are you?” she questioned. “And who allowed you in here?”
“This is where the participants gather,” Sophie responded calmly. “Why shouldn’t I be here?”
The biracial girl’s eyes swept over Sophie, taking in Sophie’s expensive clothing. She instantly pegged Sophie as someone from a wealthy background.
“Fine. Now tell me, am I wrong? Isn’t someone like her an absolute disgrace?” The biracial girl gestured toward the timid girl with disdain. “She is allowed to compete in such a prestigious competition with her pathetic, beat-up piano.”
The timid girl stammered, her anxiety growing. She struggled to find the words to defend herself, her gaze flitting nervously toward Sophie.
To the timid girl’s surprise, Sophie walked over to her and gently squeezed her shoulder in a gesture of comfort. “Don’t worry,” Sophie soothed, her voice soft and reassuring. “I believe you. Just take your time and tell me what’s wrong.”
Observing Sophie’s posture, the biracial girl instantly recognized that Sophie would inevitably defend the timid girl. Her face flushed red with anger. “Are you freaking crazy?” she shrieked. “Why are you sticking up for that loser? Trying to act like some kind of saint? This place is about talent, not about your goddamn image or kindness!”
Sophie paid no attention to the biracial girl’s outburst and gently soothed the crying timid girl, speaking softly to her.
After a few moments, the timid girl calmed down a bit. She sniffled and explained between sobs, “This is the practice room. It’s almost my turn to perform, so I wanted to practice here. But she’s been hogging the room for five days straight. I asked her if I could use it for just one day, and she said no. She was really mean to me.”
Sophie turned to the staff member. “Is someone allowed to just stay in this room as long as they want?” she asked, her voice sharp.
The staff member gave a weak smile. “Of course not. Only those scheduled to perform the next day are allowed to practice here. But…”
The staff member trailed off, glancing nervously at the biracial girl, who was glaring at him with a haughty expression. He clearly didn’t want to upset her.
The biracial girl smirked, completely unconcerned. “Yeah, that’s right,” she sneered. “I’m staying here because I want to. I was going to leave today, but then I saw her with that beat-up old piano, and it pissed me off. Why should some poor loser be allowed to learn music? It’s a disgrace to the whole industry.”
Having grasped the situation, Sophie regarded the biracial girl icily.
Sophie knew a bit about the competition. Wealthy sponsors paid for girls from poor areas to learn the piano. The best of those girls were sent to this competition, with all their expenses covered. It was a way for wealthy sponsors to improve their image and do some good in the world. If one of the sponsored girls turned out to be a musical genius, it would benefit everyone. The girl who was being bullied was probably one of those sponsored girls.
Logically, there should be no place for discrimination in this competition. Everyone came from different walks of life, with different beliefs and family situations. But they all shared the same dream: to succeed in the world of music.
Brushing off the biracial girl’s nasty comments, Sophie gently said to the timid girl, “Hey, don’t worry. I’ve got this. You go take a break, okay?”
The timid girl nodded gratefully and hurried out of the room.
Folding her arms and sneering, the biracial girl spat, “Do you even know who the hell you’re messing with? How dare you talk to me like that? You looking for a beatdown or something?”
A nearby staff member, witnessing the scene, gave Sophie a cautious look.
The biracial girl, Rola Hopkins, was the daughter of the head of a notorious local gang. The gang had a reputation for violence and intimidation, and their influence held the entire area in a tight grip. No one dared to challenge them.
Rola, following in her parents’ footsteps, behaved like a spoiled tyrant. Her father, the gang leader, was a wealthy man and a major sponsor of the concert. That was why Rola could get away with acting like a bully.