Gemotions

The concert hall was packed, the anticipation palpable. Leo, tucked away backstage, fidgeted with his guitar strap. He was supposed to be performing later. He was the headliner. He was nervous.

A support act took the stage. He barely paid attention, until the opening chords of his song, "Golden Cage," filled the arena. His song. He knew it immediately. The singer, a young woman with a powerful voice, transformed the song, making it soar.

His shoulders relaxed. He watched from the wings, completely captivated. Her interpretation was stunning, injecting the song with a youthful vigor he had thought it didn't possess. He found himself involuntarily tapping his foot, a rhythm he'd lost some time ago. When the song ended, he clapped, louder than anyone else, feeling as if the performance was for him.