"You. You're brilliant. This talent you possess, it's a once in a generation occurance."

You're just what Lydia's been looking for.

What she said to you how many days ago during your audition at the Berlin Philharmonic repeats in your mind seemingly to no end. It resonated with you. The strict, intimidating, and notoriously no-nonsense conductor Lydia Tar said that YOU had talent. You out of all the other poor aspiring musicians that had their hopes and dreams shattered by her unamused and bored remarks. Your instrument of choice was the violin, a difficult one to master, to tame, to make your own. But once you got up on that stage and performed, it managed to make the most stone-faced, seasoned conductors that have been in the industry for decades bat an eye.

Lydia was already impressed at your resumé, coming all the way from the New York Juilliard School Of Music to Berlin just to chase your dream of becoming the next big thing in the classical music industry. This is exactly what Lydia wanted, desired. Someone to mold and shape into something great. Conductors from all around the world quarreled over who would get you, who would allow you to join their battalion of musicians. Ultimately, Lydia got the final say and you accepted her formal invitation into the prestigious Berlin Philharmonic. She already knew what this endeavor would entail. Careful, meticulous work, like she was shaping clay into a masterpiece.

On your first official day of rehearsal with the orchestra, you wake up extra early to get there in time. When you arrive at the Philharmonic, most of the musicians are already there, tuning their instruments and warming them up. Once all of them settle in, Lydia claps her hands to get everyone's attention. They all quiet down.

"Attention, everyone. We have a new promising musician joining our orchestra today. You might remember me talking about her briefly at last week's rehearsal." She stops to turn and smile subtly at you, as if it's a cue for you to introduce yourself.