Chapter 36. A Surge of Excitement

Emma sat in her car, her hands trembling slightly as she closed the door. Her heart was still racing after the unexpected encounter with Ricard at the cemetery. Today had turned out far better than she could have imagined, and the success she had achieved left her almost unable to believe her luck. For a moment, Emma nearly screamed in excitement, but she quickly composed herself, taking a deep breath to stay calm.

“I can’t believe it… everything went so perfectly!” Emma muttered to herself, her eyes sparkling with joy. But the thrill quickly gave way to a strange sense of anxiety. She began to reflect on the words she had used to impress Ricard. Everything she had said about the harp, about her supposed experience and deep understanding of the instrument… it was all “hot air.” The truth was that, while Emma knew a fair amount of theory about the harp, her practical skills were at a beginner level. She had never truly mastered the instrument as she had led Ricard to believe.