Jessika Downes-Gössl

He begins trudging purposefully over the sand. And after a 10-minute walk, he finds her. He hears her first as a beautiful melody is carried on the sea breeze. Reggie wants to stop and listen. He might pull up a chair if there were one within reach. The song is coming from directly ahead.

About two dozen steps from the tideline, a semicircle of humans is grouped closely together, blocking Reggie's view of the music source. He makes his way forward, and in the center of the group, he finds the woman who made the wish, Celeste Mirasol. She's sitting on a stool, eyes closed, head bowed, and lips glued to the end of a brilliantly polished silver instrument.

About two dozen steps from the tideline, a semicircle of humans is grouped closely together, blocking Reggie's view of the music source. He makes his way forward, and in the center of the group, he finds the woman who made the wish, Celeste Mirasol. She's sitting on a stool, eyes closed, head bowed, and lips glued to the end of a brilliantly polished silver instrument.

About two dozen steps from the tideline, a semicircle of humans is grouped closely together, blocking Reggie's view of the music source. He makes his way forward, and in the center of the group, he finds the woman who made the wish, Celeste Mirasol. She's sitting on a stool, eyes closed, head bowed, and lips glued to the end of a brilliantly polished silver instrument.

Reggie remembers from his training that it's called a saxophone. Celeste and her audience sway gently and slowly to the song's rhythm. It's a very peaceful tune, something Reggie would like to hear again, perhaps just before he drifts off to sleep at the end of a long day. He stands with the rest of the audience, and even finds himself mimicking their gentle dance.

Reggie remembers from his training that it's called a saxophone. Celeste and her audience sway gently and slowly to the song's rhythm. It's a very peaceful tune, something Reggie would like to hear again, perhaps just before he drifts off to sleep at the end of a long day. He stands with the rest of the audience, and even finds himself mimicking their gentle dance.

Reggie remembers from his training that it's called a saxophone. Celeste and her audience sway gently and slowly to the song's rhythm. It's a very peaceful tune, something Reggie would like to hear again, perhaps just before he drifts off to sleep at the end of a long day. He stands with the rest of the audience, and even finds himself mimicking their gentle dance.

The music is lovely, touching a part of him he wasn't expecting to be awakened. Celeste is completely engrossed in the music. She doesn't even look up to appreciate the audience's attention. It's as if the instrument in her hands and her own considerable talent have transported her to a private world that no one else can enter. After several very pleasant minutes of music, Celeste ends the song.

The music is lovely, touching a part of him he wasn't expecting to be awakened. Celeste is completely engrossed in the music. She doesn't even look up to appreciate the audience's attention. It's as if the instrument in her hands and her own considerable talent have transported her to a private world that no one else can enter. After several very pleasant minutes of music, Celeste ends the song.

The music is lovely, touching a part of him he wasn't expecting to be awakened. Celeste is completely engrossed in the music. She doesn't even look up to appreciate the audience's attention. It's as if the instrument in her hands and her own considerable talent have transported her to a private world that no one else can enter. After several very pleasant minutes of music, Celeste ends the song.

She lets the saxophone, which is attached to a shoulder strap, rest in one hand. And she uses her other to shake hands with each of her new fans, who have stepped forward to give her praise. Reggie remains a comfortable distance away, waiting for the others to pay their respects to the artist and leave. At last, when the others have gone, Reggie moves forward.

She lets the saxophone, which is attached to a shoulder strap, rest in one hand. And she uses her other to shake hands with each of her new fans, who have stepped forward to give her praise. Reggie remains a comfortable distance away, waiting for the others to pay their respects to the artist and leave. At last, when the others have gone, Reggie moves forward.

She lets the saxophone, which is attached to a shoulder strap, rest in one hand. And she uses her other to shake hands with each of her new fans, who have stepped forward to give her praise. Reggie remains a comfortable distance away, waiting for the others to pay their respects to the artist and leave. At last, when the others have gone, Reggie moves forward.

Greeting him with a warm handshake, Celeste thanks him for listening. You played wonderfully, says Reggie. You gave us all an unexpected gift. Celeste replies that it was unexpected for her too. She turns slightly and retrieves her saxophone case from beside the stool. Then she places the case on the seat and begins breaking down the instrument so it can be safely stowed away.

Greeting him with a warm handshake, Celeste thanks him for listening. You played wonderfully, says Reggie. You gave us all an unexpected gift. Celeste replies that it was unexpected for her too. She turns slightly and retrieves her saxophone case from beside the stool. Then she places the case on the seat and begins breaking down the instrument so it can be safely stowed away.

Greeting him with a warm handshake, Celeste thanks him for listening. You played wonderfully, says Reggie. You gave us all an unexpected gift. Celeste replies that it was unexpected for her too. She turns slightly and retrieves her saxophone case from beside the stool. Then she places the case on the seat and begins breaking down the instrument so it can be safely stowed away.

Celeste tells Reggie that she hadn't planned on having a show. She just happened to have her instrument with her and decided to take a quick walk down the beach. As Celeste talks, she continues to put away the saxophone. She slides the mouthpiece into its mold and looks over the disassembled instrument. Then she gives a satisfied nod and closes the case.

Celeste tells Reggie that she hadn't planned on having a show. She just happened to have her instrument with her and decided to take a quick walk down the beach. As Celeste talks, she continues to put away the saxophone. She slides the mouthpiece into its mold and looks over the disassembled instrument. Then she gives a satisfied nod and closes the case.

Celeste tells Reggie that she hadn't planned on having a show. She just happened to have her instrument with her and decided to take a quick walk down the beach. As Celeste talks, she continues to put away the saxophone. She slides the mouthpiece into its mold and looks over the disassembled instrument. Then she gives a satisfied nod and closes the case.

After a ritualistic wrap of her knuckles on the lid, she's done. Celeste turns her full attention back to Reggie. The air coming off the waves smelled so clean, she says. And then the sound of the tide hitting the beach, the birds calling out to each other, and the people playing in the water. It all felt so perfect. I just wanted to play. Reggie nods along encouragingly.