Chapter Text
Charlie Spring was ready for a change.
After a lonely childhood and a university experience plagued by a bad relationship, Charlie had spent the last four years living alone in a shoebox-sized flat in London, teaching music at a posh secondary school for the city’s wealthiest children. Though he loved teaching music and knew he made more money working at this school than he would at most others, he was growing tired of working with such entitled students. He knew it wasn’t the kids’ fault, that they were just a product of their upbringing, but he wanted to use his gifts to inspire and empower children with the greatest need. He wanted to work with students from the most under-resourced parts of a community, not the most privileged.
So, when he learned about a fellowship program at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York that would train him to do just that, Charlie jumped at the chance. It seemed almost too good to be true: an all-inclusive year at Juilliard learning how to operate free after-school arts programs for underserved youth, with additional opportunities to visit like-minded programs across the United States. The only catch (if it could even be called that) was that upon accepting the fellowship, he would also need to agree to spend the year following the program’s completion either working in one of these after-school programs or starting one of his own. Charlie could complete this additional year anywhere in the world, meaning he could move back to London and still abide by the terms of the agreement.
While Charlie enthusiastically applied to the fellowship, he never dreamed he would actually get in. Much to his surprise, after several interviews over Zoom, Charlie received news that he was accepted into the program.
“I still don’t know if I should go,” he admitted to his sister, Tori, over the phone as he lay in his twin bed, his slender body too long for it, toes hanging over the edge. In need of a haircut, his loose dark curls fell haphazardly along his blue satin pillowcase.
“Are you kidding?” asked Tori incredulously. “A free trip to America to study the exact thing you want to do with your life? What’s left to consider?”
“It just seems too extreme sometimes,” Charlie admitted. “Like, I know I’m ready for something different, but what if it’s too much? What if I realise right away that it was the wrong choice, but it’s too late and I’m stuck there for a whole year?”
“Charles,” Tori said kindly, though Charlie could almost hear her eyes rolling, “would you consider this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?”
He sighed. “Yes, obviously.”
“So why on earth are you about to let it slip through your fingers? You won’t have this chance again. You’re still young, and you’re single–”
“God, Tori,” Charlie interrupted, “don’t remind me!”
“No, it’s a good thing!” Tori clarified. “I know you don’t want to be single, but what I mean is, even if this does end up being a colossal mistake, the only person it will affect is you. Someday you’ll be married with children, and making big decisions like this won’t be so clear cut. Now seems like the perfect time to take a risk.”
“When did you get so wise?” Charlie asked, delighted and somewhat surprised that his sister had such domestic dreams for his future.
“Just my older sister magic reigning supreme once again.”
“Won’t you miss me too much if I go to New York?” Charlie asked somewhat jokingly.
“No,” Tori deadpanned, her voice devoid of emotion.
Charlie scoffed. “Love you too, dearest sister.”
Immediately after Charlie hung up the phone, he realised Tori was right. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and he’d be silly not to take it.
And if it turned out to be a mistake?
It’s only a year , he assured himself. I’ve already had enough hard years to know I can make it through one more.
With cautious optimism, on the first Friday in August, Charlie said goodbye to his flat, his friends, and his family, and boarded a flight to New York.