Your last paragraph came out too fast. The full impact of the main character’s situation and decision, I feel, should be in the present tense. Right before that last paragraph, we have pretty much the whole story, and it’s just sad. The table is set very well for an odyssey through the music she plays. If you added a few paragraphs in there to cover her emoting (in the present tense) through playing (name the songs if you want, or whatever you like - but take us on that journey), I think this story would be much more enjoyable.
I’m also a victim of the American Dream and/or Disney, so I like a happy ending. At least some glimmer of hope or an acknowledgement that what happens at the end has a chance to produce a brighter future.
