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place. Resting the case on top of the logs, Marcie took out the flute and pushing the pieces together, she lifted it to her lips. She didn’t need sheet music to play Edelweiss , it was one of her favourite pieces; she had been playing it since the age of twelve.
    Marcie swayed gently in time with the music, closing her eyes, losing herself in the simplicity and beauty of the tune. As she played it for a second time, something broke the moment. Still playing, she glanced around the building. As her eyes swept the length of the wall opposite, reaching the small rectangular window, a dark head bobbed down from the other side.
    Marcie caught her breath, interrupting the flow of the music. There was definitely someone out there. She wondered if it was Will spying on her. Maybe he was playing a trick on her after that ghost story the other week. She gave a small smile. Well, if he thought he was going to scare her, he could think again.
    Lifting the flute back to her mouth, Marcie carried on where she had left off. She pretended to close her eyes, but peered discreetly through her lowered lashes.
    It didn’t take long before she heard a noise outside. As she resumed her swaying, this time a conscious movement, she kept an eye on the window. There it was again. Dark hair. But it wasn’t Will’s. As they face came into view, she could see it was, in fact, a child.
    Two big brown eyes peered through the glass. Marcie opened her eyes fully and looked at the little boy, his face only half illuminated by the lantern. It was still a little dark outside, daybreak not quite upon them. As she made eye contact, the boy, who looked about eight or nine from what Marcie could tell, ducked down again but within a few moments was peering back through the glass, transfixed by the music.
    Marcie controlled her breathing and continued to play to the end of the song. Then lowering the flute she gave a smile to the boy. He looked timid but his fascination was getting the better of him.
    Marcie wiggled her fingers at him and smiled broadly. She gave a little tip of her head and began playing Strauss’s Blue Danube . She started off swaying and then seeing she had the lad’s attention, she began to waltz around the small space of the wood store, rising and falling in time with the music. As she twirled she looked back at the window, the boy was now smiling. Marcie played faster and twirled quicker to keep pace with the tempo. Encouraged by his smile, she went even faster. She could see the delight on his face, which urged her on even more. She span round and round, playing the tune so much faster than it was ever intended.
    As Marcie spun round on yet another lap, the door to the wood store opened. Standing in the doorway, silhouetted against the dawn sky was Will.
    Marcie stopped so abruptly that she lost her balance, stumbled and, overcome with dizziness, fell onto the earth floor.
     
    Will let out a laugh but quickly caught hold of himself.
    ‘Shit. Are you okay?’ he said, striding over to her and crouching down.
    She looked flustered as she sat up. ‘My flute!’ she said looking around her.
    ‘It’s here.’ Will passed it over.
    ‘I can’t see properly in this light,’ she said, examining the instrument closely. ‘I hope I haven’t damaged it. Why did you creep up on me like that?’
    ‘I didn’t mean to,’ said Will. ‘Here, let me help you up.’ He stood up and held out his hand to her. As she accepted his gesture, he couldn’t help noticing how soft her hands were. It had been a long time since he had held anyone’s hand. For a moment his mind went blank as he looked down at her.
    She wiggled her hand free, breaking the trance and despite the dim morning light, Will noticed a small blush to her face. He gave himself a mental shake. He wasn’t quite sure what had happened there.
    ‘Have you hurt yourself?’ he said, taking both a mental and physical step back.
    ‘No, I’m fine,’ said Marcie. Then she swung round to