Finale

Day of D is arrived. Delia woke up to the soft touch of Jo, who quietly approached her bed and gently touched her shoulder. He looked serious and a little tense, but there was a fire in his eyes, as if this day was something more than just a premiere.

"Get up," he said quietly but firmly. "We need to get ready. You remember that we need to look like we're at a wedding?"

Delia opened her eyes and immediately felt her heart beat faster. This was the moment when her life changed, when everything became truly important. She rose from the bed, her thoughts still not fully formed in her head, but she felt that this day would be decisive.

Jo, meanwhile, was already standing at the mirror and began to pull on his black coat, carefully buttoning it. He looked stunning - strict, elegant, but still with that easy and confident look that Delia knew so well. He glanced at her and, smiling, said:

"You remember how we do all this, right? After the premiere, as soon as everything is over, we immediately leave and get married. This will be our day. Today we will finally become each other."

Delia nodded, but her heart sank. Excitement filled her. Everything was happening so fast. At first she had only dreamed of staying with him, and now it was becoming a reality. She took her beautiful dress, which she had chosen especially for this day, and headed to the bathroom.

When she returned, Jo was almost ready. He helped her button her dress and fix her hair, and then looked at her again with that same look of determination and confidence.

"It'll be okay," he said softly. "We'll do it. We'll play, and then we'll live the life we've always dreamed of," and with that he beckoned her into the kitchen for breakfast.

Breakfast passed in an unusual silence. Jo spoke enthusiastically of the future, setting Delia in a positive mood, but his words seemed distant to her, as if she were hearing them through a glass. He smiled as he told her how they would go on their honeymoon, and how he already had a clear plan.

"I think we'll go to Toronto first, and then to Vancouver," he said with bright enthusiasm. "It'll be the perfect start to our new life. Toronto is an incredible city, and Vancouver... well, Vancouver is a fairy tale, you've never been there, have you?"

Delia ate her breakfast in silence, though she barely even noticed the taste. Jo's words echoed in her head, but she couldn't shake the feeling that he was just trying to make her feel better. She didn't believe any of it was real. A honeymoon in Canada, Toronto, Vancouver... It sounded like he was describing a perfect plan that was too good to be true. Maybe he was just saying it to distract her from the worries and fears she couldn't voice.

"Do you have any idea how great it's going to be?" Jo continued, putting his spoon in his coffee cup and looking up to meet her eyes. "We'll be there alone, without all this worry. Just you and me. I'm so glad we'll have time for ourselves."

Delia looked into his eyes and nodded, unable to respond to his enthusiasm. After breakfast, they left the apartment without saying a word. Jo, as always, looked confident and enthusiastic, while Delia walked beside him, absorbed in her own thoughts, as if the whole world was somewhere far beyond the apartment.

As soon as they got outside and approached the playground, their eyes were drawn to Mollie, sitting in the sandbox and playing with toys. When she saw them, the girl suddenly stopped, her eyes wide, and jumped to her feet.

"Oh, wow! You're already a bride, Delia?" she exclaimed in surprise, as if she had just discovered something incredible.

Delia paused for a moment, smiling a little confusedly, and then looked at Jo. He laughed immediately, and his laugh was light and warm, as if he had no worries about anything.

"Of course, Mollie!" he replied with a smile. "But don't worry, when you grow up, you'll marry someone too, and it'll be just as fun!"

Mollie even seemed to think for a moment, then grabbed her toy again and became immersed in the game, but her face was still full of curiosity.

Delia chuckled softly and walked with Jo toward the opulent Philharmonic Hall, where Mahler's Sixth Symphony was to be premiered. Unlike the orchestra building where they rehearsed, this place had a special atmosphere, with elaborate decorations, golden columns, and glittering chandeliers. There were many more people here, and many of them were spectators who had come early to take their seats and feel the excitement that always precedes such important events.

As soon as they entered the building, Delia felt a slight hesitation. The walls of the Philharmonic, decorated with paintings and sculptures, created a sense of grandeur, and even the air here was special - saturated with anticipation and the importance of the moment. Spectators had already begun to gather in the foyer, whispering and glancing at the expensive tickets.

As Jo and Delia approached the stage where the rest of the band was gathering, Delia felt her heart skip a beat. She saw familiar faces that didn't make her feel any better. The bandmates who had been taunting her with sneers were now standing around the other band members, discussing the final preparations. Emily, Carlton, and Ryan were all there, in the same room, and Delia couldn't help but feel the tension in her chest tighten.

Emily caught her eye for a moment, and gave her a small, mocking smirk. Carlton stood next to her, trying to hide his dislike despite his cruel gaze. Ryan, watching her silently, crossed his arms over his chest, and his gaze was full of the same disdain she had seen during rehearsals. They had seemed to be holding back their anger all this time, but now that they were together again, Delia realized that it was looming over her.

Every look these people gave her, every movement, every phrase, seemed to be aimed at breaking her, at humiliating her again. Delia felt her hands begin to tremble slightly, and her face became more and more tense. These people, who once seemed like colleagues to her, now looked like enemies, ready to tear her apart again, even if it was just with a look.