The Unseen Memory
In a distant town known as Worthington, there resided a renowned pianist named Edward Thomson. Edward, in his prime, was beloved throughout the town for his extraordinary talent.
Edward lived in a regal house atop an emerald hill, purported to be haunted by the townsfolk. Folklore stated an ancient loot was buried underneath, but Edward never paid heed to these tales. Edward was more enchanted by the solitude and inspiration the place offered, before an unexpected calamity struck him one day.
On a cold winter's morn, Edward woke up to find his world permanently darkened. He had become blind. Doctors couldn't determine the cause and the townsfolk considered it a wrath of the haunted hill. Edward felt his life was shattered. The light of his music seemed to dim.
One day, as he was despairingly trailing his fingers over the piano keys, he was approached by an old woman named Marianne, who was known for her eccentricities. She lived alone at the outskirts and was proficient in ancient ways of medicine. Unlike others, she believed Edward's blindness was temporary and could be healed.
Edward, having lost all hope, laughed at her initially but Marianne's unwavering belief left him intrigued. He started spending time with her, learning the therapeutic power of herbs and natural methods.
As days turned into months, Marianne not only became a healer to Edward but also a mentor and a friend. Edward got reintroduced to the world through her tales, gaining a new insight into life. They worked together diligently, unbeknownst to the townsfolk.
One day, Marianne told him about a mystical root, believed to heal all aliments according to ancient lore. The catch was that it could only be found at an elderly tree near the graveyard at the stroke of twilight.
Edward hesitated, but Marianne had filled him with newfound courage. Guided by moonlight and his intuition, Edward arrived at the tree. The earth beneath the tree was tough and the chilly air made him shiver. Digging through the ground, he found a luminescent root. He remembered the incantations told by Marianne, and despite his initial scepticism, he felt an unexplainable surge of energy.
Bring the root back to Marianne, he felt excited and anxious. Marianne took the root and prepared a concoction, applying it on Edward's eyes. Exhausted and weary, Edward went to sleep with hope blossoming in his heart.
Next morning, Edward awoke to a different realm. He saw the colours, the landscape, his house, and the piano. His eyes had regained their vision. The joy that filled Edward was beyond words. With gratitude in his heart, Edward reached Marianne's place, only to find it deserted. A note was kept on the table, 'Keep the music alive, Edward.'
Tears welled up in Edward's eyes. His joy of seeing was intertwined with the sorrow of Marianne's disappearance. He returned home and played the piano, with his fingers dancing gracefully over the keys. The townsfolk were drawn to his house by the bewitching melody.
From that day onwards, Edward devoted his life to music and helping others. His music was the voice of his experiences, transcending the physical world and reaching the hearts of the listeners. Even though Marianne disappeared, she lived within Edward’s music and in the tales he told, like an unseen memory streaked with love and courage.
As for the enchanted hill, it was indeed enchanted but not with the mighty gold or silver, rather with the loudest treasure of Edward’s vivacious piano tunes echoing throughout the town of Worthington.