Short Story

I hurried to get dressed with a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up past my cast. I also wore a red tie and black skinny jeans. I could only sing so we had to use the track guitar. Last thing I had to do was my vocal warmups. I finished and went to the side of the stage. My mind was swirled with thoughts as the video ran and our cue was said to go on stage. My microphone was on me and I was as ready as I was ever going to be. We all ran on stage and started to play. We started with undisclosed desires. Since I didn’t have my guitar to play it gave me a chance to rest and just

Underneath the sound of my voice is a song, “Seminole Wind.” If I still myself long enough to stop bringing my own voice and words to life, the song gives me images. The scenery that unfolds in my mind’s eye belongs to the memories of a young girl, who was so confused.

At twenty one years old, while others my age explored life, I was examining mine. Sue, assisting me in the process, was my co-pilot covering as the therapist and played the part well because she represented everything you 'd imagine a therapist to be: the soft voice becoming stern if need be, the sympathetic look yet retaining an air of detachment and the clothes: pastel colours, beads, turtle neck. However, the therapy itself was not exclusive to self-exploration, I was there to sing but not to Sue; this wasn’t drama therapy. The dominant reason I initiated therapy was to free up the unconscious repressions I believed or was convinced were holding my voice back. In relation to the repressions, there could have been a few reasons but it was why Sue got paid; her job was to locate and release my repressions because my job was to make music.

I wish that Jason could sing with me but there was no argument when Echo told me the song only required one set of vocals. After getting lost in my worried thoughts for a minute, my mind went back to reality when the lights dimmed and the crowd got quiet. My heart raced and it took all my strength to stand still and hold back tears. "Now everyone, this is our last entry for the competition but I've heard great things from this group and am sure they will impress you. Now playing the song (song name here) is (school name here) Middle School's Junior Music Group!" The announcer said in an excited voice. My stomach sank when he basically told the crowd to have high expectations but I knew I couldn't chicken out now. The curtains started to separate and bright lights started to blind me from the large crowd, which was good in this case. I knew now that I was facing the biggest challenge of my life and that if I failed to complete this challenge, my dreams of a musician would collapse, so I didn't take this lightly. I adjusted my posture one more time and with trembling hands I signaled Tori to begin her

I cupped his mouth with my palm. Only silence would speak for this man. I cleared my throat.

A few hours pass before we end up going back to his house and he ends up paying telling me to save it for emergencies.

The song before mine ends, the crowd cheering as my body begins to numb. I barely notice the last performer walk offstage as I tremble in the wings. Hesitantly, I make my way to center stage. My heart is pounding, nearly escaping from my chest. My eyes, blinded by the light, search for a familiar

When asked to sing one of the production’s main female pieces, the immense, soaring notes caused a ripple of strained screeches which left the directors speechless, and definitely not in the best way. I prayed that I could scrape by a lesser part or even the male role that I originally auditioned for, but when I slowly approached the cast list, I was thoroughly disappointed. Not only had the tenor role that I craved escaped from me entirely, but I was cut from the entire

Reluctantly, I walk over to where he is standing, and am shocked to see that

I shuffle into the practice room where Mr. Vandyke is standing waiting for me to begin my audition. When the music begins playing , I feel like I am on the right pitch, but for me it is difficult to tell when I'm singing on key. I walk out of the practice room feeling relieved that

It is our time to go backstage, we all fill in. As I wait , I am very apprehensive and nervous to go on.

As I entered, I noticed that the stage was dark and gloomy. I expected there to be a huge crowd. However, there were only three judges. As I took each step, the floor creaked beneath me. I hesitantly progressed forward towards the center of the stage. The judges had their backs towards me. Subsequently, I instantly got an eerie feeling. As I reached the center of the stage, I felt as if I was going to throw up again. Then, as a rush of wind breezed past me, the three judges turned around and faced me. Two were women, and one was a figure that I had never seen before. He was standing in the middle of the two women. I recognized the two women ad Beyonce and Nicki Minaj; nevertheless, I could not take my eyes off of the man in the middle. His eyes were pitch black; additionally, he held a cane with fire blazing at the top of it. His deep, blood-curdling voice then demanded for me to sing. I did not believe I could possibly even speak a word, but as I stared into the figure’s soulless eyes, I automatically began to sing my heart out. As I sang, I noticed the two celebrities beside the fearful man began to record my voice. After what felt

Picture a baby screaming at the top of her lungs every time she gets her hair washed, with a sound as though someone is murdering her. Now imagine a child, giving her mother headaches, as she makes one of her mother’s biggest wishes come true. My mother used to always listen to a famous singer named Aaliyah, sadly the singer passed away at a young age, and she cried for weeks. Mom prayed that one day, if she had a girl, that she would have a voice like Aaliyah’s. Her prayers came true: I continue to sing in cars when she leaves to enter stores; singing in the basement, acappella and even in the shower. One thing that she didn’t expect is for me to be humbled, which makes it a curse to want to perform. I wanted to break-free from that shell

The man I have been looking for is present, waiting in the dark for me. His shadow stands in the corner of the road, and I am hugging a brick wall, waiting in the alley with all the other trash. He is tall but slouched, with long skinny arms that won't fit in his tattered blue suit. His face is puffed up and red from crying all night, he is vulnerable.

"Darling," He moans only a foot and a half away from me. "call my name. Be rough, yell at me. Just let it be my name. I want a preview of what I going to make-." I scoot away from him and speak.