Cupid's Prelude

As the yellow-orange rays of twilight began to smolder in its last minutes before nightfall, Terence sat atop his St. Louis city-view apartment window looking down at people busily going about their lives and feeling the loneliness of a man who zigs when the world zags. He sighed deeply and adjusted the mouthpiece on his trumpet, dismissing any thoughts of self-pity. ⁣⁣

⁣⁣

Besides, he'd always felt like a man from a different time. He preferred jazz over the factory-formulated pop music dominating the airwaves and had decidedly intellectual tastes in film and literature. Even his fashion choices were unapologetically square, preferring crisp button-ups and suede loafers to oversized sweatshirts and sneakers. "C'est la vie," he muttered and shrugged his shoulders. He put the trumpet to his lips and played the opening notes to Horace Silver’s “Señior Blues.”⁣⁣

 ⁣⁣

However, the young musician wasn’t quite as alone as he believed. Unbeknownst to Terence, he was playing for an audience of one. ⁣⁣

⁣⁣

In the apartment exactly one floor below was Angela, a lithe, but decidedly feminine and graceful young woman with a pair of radiant hazel eyes that gazed from behind thin wire-rimmed glasses. One of her favorite pastimes on warm summer nights was to sit at her window with a glass of iced tea and listen to the heavenly concertos that she liked to think were being played especially for her. With the scent of jasmine in the air and a burgeoning full moon, this evening was no exception. ⁣⁣

 ⁣⁣

Angela had never laid eyes on her own personal maestro, although her imagination often ran wild with ideas about exactly who the man was behind the horn. Was he tall, dark and handsome like the matinee idols of a bygone era? Or maybe he had the quirky charm of an eccentric artist? Alas, destiny hadn't intervened to give her the answers. "Perhaps it's for the best," she said to ease her curiosity. ⁣⁣

⁣⁣

Only minutes into the first song, Angela was already lost in melodic bliss. Then she heard the trumpet squeal harshly like a cat that had just spent one of its nine lives underneath a speeding car. Next, she heard a violent crash followed by deafening silence.⁣⁣

 ⁣⁣

Angela’s mind raced, considering what could have happened to the musician. Usually an eternal optimist, her intuition told her something was wrong. Very wrong.⁣⁣

 ⁣⁣

She hurried to his aid. Halfway up the stairs to the top floor, she finally realized that she neglected to put on any decent clothing. Yet, feeling the urgency of the moment, she decided turning back could prove costly.⁣⁣

 ⁣⁣

Clad in only a slinky white nightgown and slippered feet, Angela banged on the door of the musician’s apartment. “Hello! Hello! Is anybody there?” ⁣⁣

⁣⁣

The stillness from the other side of the door made her stomach do flips. She banged again, her heart pounding like galloping horses. She then heard movement and footfalls approaching. Finally, she heard the latch being unlocked, and the door swung open. ⁣⁣

Terence stood slumped over, clutching his chest and breathing heavily. ⁣⁣

Angela rushed to his side. “Are you okay?” she asked, wrapping her arm around the man in a comforting gesture. ⁣⁣

⁣⁣

“I’ll be fine,” Terence said, waving her off, determined not to make a fuss. “I just felt a sudden pain in my chest, like I was stabbed in the heart. I guess I must've fallen afterwards.” ⁣⁣

⁣⁣

Still trying to pull himself together, he glanced up at the stranger standing in his living room, giving him a bottom to top view. He was reminded of the way old cartoons revealed sexy pin-up girls, panning from stilettoed feet and finally revealing an ugly, distorted face. To his relief, he saw quite the contrary.⁣⁣

 ⁣⁣

Looking into the woman’s bespectacled eyes, gleaming with concern, Terence immediately felt comforted and his pain evaporated like mist. He couldn’t explain the sudden magnetism he had for his new acquaintance. It was almost as if he'd known her for a lifetime.⁣⁣

⁣⁣

“Do you need me to call for help?” Angela asked.⁣⁣

⁣⁣

“No,” Terence said, a smile appearing on his lips. “I’ve never felt better.”⁣⁣

⁣⁣

Angela sighed with relief and met Terence’s gaze with equal appreciation. She was in disbelief that her jazz man was so good looking, with intelligent eyes and a calming demeanor. ⁣⁣

⁣⁣

Now, self-consciously covering her chest with her arms, Angela formally introduced herself. Terence reciprocated, shaking her hand gently before reluctantly letting go. ⁣⁣

 ⁣⁣

Twirling her long tresses with the fingers of her left hand, Angela explained what made her so worried. “I was listening to you play, when I heard – "⁣⁣

⁣⁣

“Wait, you were listening to me play?” Terence interrupted excitedly.⁣⁣

⁣⁣

"Yeah, I was." A sheepish expression colored Angela's face. "Your music has soothed me on many nights."⁣⁣

 ⁣⁣

Terence was rendered speechless, but his exuberance was unmistakable.⁣⁣

 ⁣⁣

“Well, I should probably go,” Angela said. “I try not to make a habit of going out in a nightgown.”⁣⁣

 ⁣⁣

Anxious to prolong the conversation, but unable to think of a witty reply, Terence blurted out, “Maybe I can play for you one day?” ⁣⁣

⁣⁣

“I’d like that,” Angela said, trying to remain cool, but unable to contain the gleaming smile plastered across her pretty face. “Can I make a request ahead of time?” ⁣⁣

 ⁣⁣

Terence slipped into his best late night DJ voice. “This is WJAZ and you’re on the line.”

⁣⁣

“Prelude to a Kiss.” Angela scampered out the door like a gazelle, leaving no room for response.⁣⁣

 ⁣⁣

Waiting just long enough for Angela to get settled in, Terence strode back over to his open window. Darkness had completely fallen and the inky blackness engulfed him. But there was something different this time. He felt connected. Like he was a part of a grand tapestry being woven by the hands of fate. ⁣⁣

⁣⁣

Terence inhaled and held up his trumpet. It contained the secret of life within it. He played a rendition of “Prelude to a Kiss” that would make even the late great Duke Ellington himself smile.⁣⁣

 ⁣⁣

Angela sat in her favorite chair, eyes closed, absorbing every note, knowing this was the beginning of something wonderful and new.⁣⁣

⁣⁣

Underneath the undulating rhythm, she heard what sounded like wings flapping, more heavy and earnest than any bird’s. The sound cascaded and echoed like a black river flowing into the sky and then faded away.⁣⁣