Gemotions

The stage lights blinded her. She’d been enjoying a quiet evening at the theatre, but then, the announcement. “And now, for the grand finale, the ‘Starlight Symphony’!” The music began. The familiar melody, the intricate harmonies, it was her composition, her labor of love.

She felt her face flush, heat rising in her chest. She had submitted the piece to a competition, and the rejection had been brutal. Now, here it was, performed by a renowned orchestra, celebrated by a cheering crowd.

The conductor bowed, taking the applause. The audience erupted in cheers. She wanted to scream, to run, to disappear. A wave of nausea washed over her. She gripped the armrests of her seat, trying to steady herself. The music continued, a beautiful, cruel reminder of what had been taken.