I had always found comfort in music and used it to connect with my late husband Jerry. But when new neighbours moved in, they made a lot of people angry and upset about the noise. They really hurt me when they wrote something mean on my wall, which made me feel broken and alone.
Melissa, my niece, seemed to feel that something was wrong and came to see me. Each word she heard made her face darker as she listened to my story. She was determined to help me feel good about myself again and stand up to the mean kids next door.
Melissa had a great idea. She put up speakers around the neighbours’ land and played soft piano music. Eventually, the music turned into a chaos of dog barks, car alarms, and funny fart sounds. The neighbours were left rushing to figure out where the noise was coming from.
I couldn’t help but laugh as I watched the chaos. I felt free for the first time in weeks. It reminded me that I didn’t have to let other people’s bad moods control my life. The things Melissa did made me realise I still had a voice and that I should be heard.
Next day, a group of people came to my house to turn my piano room into a cutting-edge insulated studio. Melissa put it all together, giving me music again as a gift. When I sat down at my shiny new piano, my fingers were shaking with joy. The familiar sounds of “Moon River” filled the air, and I could feel Jerry all around me.
I knew right then that I would never let anyone shut me up again. She helped me find my voice, and I was determined to use it to make everyone around me happy and beautiful. As I played, I felt thankful and loved for my family, who had always been there for me and pushed me to follow my dreams.
