France 1842- 1860
Her father used to play the violin, and she would listen to him hour after hour and never grew tired of it.
Little Annabel would ask frequently whether he could one day teach her to play it or not. He would always just laugh and tell her that someday he would, if she was a little bit older. That would always increase her impatience even more. She so badly wanted to be like her father.
She looked up to him. He was the example of what she wanted to be. Musical, kind, faithful child to God and passionate.
Unfortunately, though blessed with the passion for music, she didn't have an extraordinary voice. Over the years her father tried to teach her but he never really gained any triumph.
It was true that she had a lovely voice but it wasn't nearly good enough to create a occupation with it. Still she didn't give up on music and continued taking lessons with her father and later on as she aged got accepted in Paris' academy of fine arts.
But her father could not experience the journey with her because the day Annabel turned 18 years old he passed away from a lung infection.
This ruined her, without having her father to motivate her passion, she struggled through her courses in the academy. It took four long years to complete it successfully.
After she had been taken in by their close friend, Madame Velcius, she started doing temporary tutoring in basic music and helped her around the house.This was her life for quite a while until one morning, while Annabel was at work scrubbing the kitchen floors Mme Velcius came in that late afternoon with the week's newspaper.
The woman, who was already in her mid sixties, gasped at the sight of Annabel. She looked exhausted, completely overworked.
This made her angry.
The child was only 22 years of age and it was certain that in no time her small soft hands will be damaged because of all the scrubbing she does almost every morning!
"My goodness Annabel, look at you! Don't tell me you have been working like this all morning." Mme Velcius said putting the paper on the table.
Annabel stopped and looked up at Mme Velcius while wiping a few drops of sweat off her forehead with her medium length sleeve.
"Mme, you know I did and you know I would do it anytime possible. I myself made the commitment to take care of you full time. It is what satisfies me.
After all you took the responsibility to take care of me after father died. It is the least I can do for you." She said smiling.
What beauty, Mme Velcius would always think.
Beautiful inside and out, just like her father.
"And I appreciate that my dear, but you are still so young. Overworking yourself like this is really not necessary. I may be over sixty, but I can still do a thing or two for myself!" She said laughing while pulling out a chair to sit down.
Annabel joined in on the laughing while pulling herself up from the floor and taking the little metal bucket along with her to the sink.
Afterwards she decided to make tea while Mme Velcius started paging through the newspaper like she always did on a Monday afternoon.
After a few minutes of skimming the first pages that existed of the recent happenings in Paris, something caught her eye on the first page as she started to read.
'Mayor gave permission on order to build new Opera House. Construction in progress.'
"My word, isn't that unexpected."
Mme Velcius muttered under her breath.
"Annabel! Come here my child, you have to see this!"
Annabel hurriedly came with the tea in her hands towards Mme Velcius.
"What is it Mme?"
"Look at this, an Opera house is in the process of construction. Isn't it wonderful? Paris' first!" Mme Velcius exclaimed.
Annabel couldn't believe it. A real opera house? An entire building that would exist of music, dancing, theater and more music.
Only, this didn't excite her much.
"It is indeed wonderful, Mme." Annabel replied indifferent, putting down the tea.
Mme Velcius's eyes widened with shock at Annabel's reaction to the news.
It was worse than she thought.
Though Mme Velcius knew Gustave's death would drain the life from the girl, she never thought it would go this far.
She always thought that Annabel would be attached more to music now in order to keep close to her father, but it was definitely not the case.
And the music tutoring!
That was what kept her satisfied that Annabel still had the beauty and passion in her for the art.
Now seeing the child's reaction proved to her that she thought wrong.
"Well, I honestly expected you to be much more excited than this! Don't you see the opportunity to finally use your talent and experience from the academy? The Opera Populair will allow it to grow and create you an occupation!" Mme Velcius said.
She was not going to let the child be with this behavior.
Annabel slowly shook her head.
"Mme, it was a misery to complete those courses in the academy! It has never been the same after father died. Besides, I am definitely not supreme enough to ever be able to sing there."
"I disagree, child. You have potential, you just haven't found the right tutor yet." Mme Velcius urged.
"No Mme, if my father couldn't teach me, then who can?" Annabel said taking a small drink from the cinnamon tea.
Mme Velcius sighed.
"Well, you can always dance you know! You prefer dancing don't you? It's also part of the musical arts."
Annabel did have passion in almost every art that had to do with music. It was such a shame to see her losing that.
Mme Velcius still tried though, it still had to be there somewhere.
Annabel thought about it.
It did sound lovely, there was no doubt about it.
She might never become a supreme singer but being privileged enough to dance in an opera would be just as amazing. Though her father wouldn't be there to share it with her.
"We'll see Mme." She simply replied and continued to drink her tea.