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Rhapsody:

a one-rated, free-flowing in structure, and featuring a range of highly contrasted moods, color, and tonality

Prologue

Desperate Times

Eden

The New Year had arrived, and I was broke as fuck

And for ered depression Bills caused anxiety Hope rotted Eo

How the hell a to pay rent?

Coughing, I put my joint out into the ashtray and returned to my job search

Allon coffee Newspapers surrounded me

My cat, V, snuggled against my foot Her nickname was short for Vibrato Her purr sounded like the ed in pitch, just like my violin

V purred againstthat I spend time with her

“I can’t mess with you now” I moved my foot

Seconds later, she returned, rubbing her soft, furry head against my toes Spoiled to the core, I’d found Vibrato on my doorstep as a kitten in a basket with a red bow loosely tied around her neck There was no note, just her sad little eyes beggingher inside

I moved my foot from the persistent cat and continued to type violinist jobs into my laptop “Dude I need to make some money, so we can both eat”

V didn’t care as she co my foot

Then, someone knocked at my door

My roommate Leo tattooed people at the house for extra money He’d played in the Belladonna Symphony like me He was a cellist, and I, a violinist Since the symphony’s demise, we both were out of a job

I hope this is somebody for him We need to make rent

I rose from the couch and walked over to the door “Who is it?”

“It’s your aunt The one that’s been calling you five tiain “What’s up with youthe phone?”