In my teens, I met a beautiful boy named Sebastian. His charm stole my heart from the very first look – black eyes, black hair and lovely dimples every time he smiled. He was my age and lived in the same town as my grandmother. Sebastian was gifted with an incredible musical talent, playing both the piano and synthesizer. It was he, who introduced me to the electronic music of Jean-Michel Jarre. Every time I travelled to my grandma’s, he and I would get together and spend hours immersed in music. Sebastian would play Jarre’s most famous tunes, on his KORG M1 keyboard, and I would listen in adoration.
The passion and beauty that emanated from this young man were simply irresistible.
Our deep fondness for the French composer created a very strong bond between our hearts. We not only dreamed of one day attending a Jean-Michel Jarre concert, but we also had plans for our future together. Beyond a doubt, Sebastian was my sweetheart – the first man to tell me, ‘I love you!’
While Sebastian’s musical talent brought him recognition and popularity, his compulsion for speed always got him into trouble. His parents knew this well, and for that reason, they refused to buy him a car.
Four years had passed and we both began the final year of high school, in our separate towns. One September evening, I felt a strong urge to call Sebastian. He answered the phone brimming with joy, hardly able to find the words to express his excitement. As it turned out, Sebastian had just returned from Germany, where he attended the concert by none other than Jean-Michel Jarre! This invitation came completely unexpectedly, as a family friend mentioned having a spare ticket for Jarre’s concert in Berlin.
Seeing Jean-Michel in person was a beyond-mesmerizing, once-in-a-lifetime experience for Sebastian. He enthusiastically shared every detail about the event, making me feel as though I were there with him.
The time passed quickly on this long-distance call, and my father noted that we should shortly wrap up our conversation. I mentioned an upcoming visit to my grandma and promised that he and I would meet again soon. Sebastian had so much to say and continued talking, even though I was told to hang up the phone. His overjoyed voice was in my ears, and my father’s displeased face was in my view.
Eventually, I had to say good-bye, although the call felt terribly interrupted and incomplete.
A short two weeks later, I received an unexpected phone call from my grandmother. She sounded deeply distraught and couldn’t find the words. I sensed from her voice that something serious had happened. She finally shared the devastating news that Sebastian had been in a motorcycle accident, which ended in tragedy….
My life stopped. My world ended. A terrible void and painful emptiness filled my being. In no way, was I prepared to lose the boy of my heart, at just 18!
The next time I saw Sebastian was at his funeral.
Once a charming and vigorous young man, he was now lifeless in a coffin. Instead of his lovely dimples, I saw his pale face and bandaged head. It became clear why he was so eager to prolong our phone conversation – as if he knew it would be our last moment together.
His passing hit hard on me. At such a young age, I didn’t know how to cope with this heavy loss. My life felt empty, and I had no means to proceed. No music, no passion, and no future to live for. Everything was gone. Grief consumed all of my youth.
Never again was I able to listen to Jean-Michel Jarre’s music.
Jean-Michel Jarre’s Calypso III, tells this story better than words can:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2sUlI1NYL4
Continue to part II to know what miracle happened years later:
https://hannaisabelle.com/2019/03/jean-michel-jarre-part-2/
by Hanna Isabelle
English