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Splinters

Avatar Author: someday_93 "The last page doesn't necessarily mean the end." *Right Now:* I’m an 18-year-old girl who just started college. Trying to figure this whole life thing out. So, if you don't see me for periods of time... I'm doing coll... Read Bio

It was that same day that I found out. I mean, everyone’s entitled to a little psychosis at that point, right? I just don’t know why it was I needed to take it out on my violin. Some kids cut, some drink, some do drugs, but me, well…I was different.

My violin was beautiful. They say string players are more attached to their instruments than other musicians, and it’s true. Mine’s name was Frankie.

Right before I did it, I ran my hand over his smooth wood, feeling the contours of the f-holes with my fingertip. I lightly plucked each of the strings – G, D, A, E. I traced the swirling spiral of the scroll. One of my tears slid down my face, running over his brown body.

When I was finished, I looked down at the pile of splinters in front of me. What was there was almost unrecognizable as an instrument, and I was breathing hard.

It seemed so right. Destroying music was much better than making it.

As I walked out of the music room, I laced my fingers over the little bump just beginning to grow in my belly.

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Comments (10 so far!)

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  1. Avatar .:Band Baby:.

    oh ouch! nvr give up music. It can be a life saver. But beautiful writing! I like how you never actually said what you did.

  2. Avatar Mostly Harmless

    What is left unsaid makes this piece… Very well written, with all the more impact read the second time through because of that last line, which is important, but jot overwrought… Skillful indeed.

    It would be slightly harder for me to destroy my piano…! MH :)

  3. Avatar Catherine

    I get upset when I break a string on my viola! I could never imagine destroying an instrument! I love the paragraph when you described your violin right before it was broken. This is very good!

  4. Avatar kaellinn18

    Wow, this is a very intense piece. I really liked it. Like M.H. mentioned, what you didn’t say is what made this exceptional, although what you did say was beautiful.

  5. Avatar ElshaHawk (LoA)

    wow what an exchange, and it is in what is left out.

  6. Avatar K-Jellybean

    My first cello was named Shakimi, the second Lola and my current cello is Apollo. I can’t imagine ever hurting him in anyway. I even apologize to him when I snap a string or bump him against something. After I play, I thank him for the beautiful sound every time.

    It sounds obsessive, and maybe it is, but my instrument is just so special. When something becomes the medium for true emotional expression, a little piece of you goes into it. I love that you captured that same feeling, but then showed how distraught the character was by personifying angst in the dismantling of said medium.

  7. Avatar Nymphaea Rose

    oh noes….how could she :(. I mean, I yell at my viola whenever she (named Augustus) is difficult with tuning (which is a lot of the time) but as soon as someone else gets close I freak out!!

  8. Avatar Nymphaea Rose

    oh and here’s my rating lol.

  9. Avatar Blossom Ruoquen (LoA)

    I was left cringing. Poor frankie. For me, it seemed like an exchange – voilin for unnamed baby. It seemed like she was destroying one relationship to force herself to make room for another. Great thoughts went into this

  10. Avatar OrangeOreos (LoA)

    Crap, this was great! I’m not much of a musician. I can barely play piano, but I still can’t imagine destroying an instrument… Much less one that you’re attached to… Powerful, and through the description of just one act, it tells a whole story. Simply brill.

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