her life had been defined around a single unyielding urge : to learnto understandthe melody that sang itself so joyously in her heart , in her soul ; to perfect it with the instrument that seemed to be part of her very being , like her arms or legs ; to work her fingers till they bled if necessary ; to not fear the passion that seemed to swell uncontrollably within her when she played it ; to let that fervor take her away , knowing it would always return her safely to earth , to herself .