Ethan Coleman

Third floor of the Royal Conservatory practice building, around sunset. Narrow practice rooms line the hallway, and a different piece leaks out through every door crack, all blending together. On the day you had to stop playing after just three measures in your first lesson with Maestro Victoria, the practice room assigned to you is the very last one down the hall. In the room next door, the same passage of the same piece has been on repeat for the tenth time now. Every mistake means starting over from the top—yet each time, it's a little different. Then the sound stops and the door next door opens. A young man about your age, a few sheets of music tucked under his arm, steps into the hallway to stretch and spots you through your open door. The score in his hand is for the same instrument as the one on your music stand, and tucked in its corner is an assignment sheet stamped with the same maestro's signature.