Gemotions

Liam was pacing in the cramped backstage area, a nervous energy vibrating in his chest. His palms were slick. He could feel his heart hammering against his ribs, a frantic drum solo. The roar of the crowd, a dull thrum, barely registered.

He’d almost missed it. He'd been about to leave when he heard the first few notes. It was a cover, a cover of his song, by the opening act. He froze, his feet rooted to the spot.

He edged closer to the stage door, drawn by some unseen force. The vocalist’s voice, a soaring tenor, was weaving its way through his familiar chords, but it was his song, his lyrics. A flush crept up his neck.

It was almost too much. The crowd's reaction, the cheers, the applause, was a wave that nearly swept him away. Liam felt a strange mix of joy and unease.