Gemotions

The concert hall buzzed with energy. It was a special event, and Ava, poised backstage, felt a quiet thrill coursing through her. Tonight, she was ready. After years of relentless practice and under the watchful eye of Maestro Bellini, she was to perform a solo piece. The piano gleamed under the stage lights, the scent of fresh flowers filling the air. She felt like she could fly.

He would be proud, she thought.

A stagehand approached, a small, sealed envelope in his hand. “For you, miss,” he said, his expression neutral.

Ava ripped it open, her fingers trembling. *Ava, my dear, my work here is done. Farewell. – Bellini.* Her breath hitched. The music, which had been a source of such joy, felt suddenly distant. The stage lights seemed to dim.