Gemotions

The concert hall was packed, the music a deafening roar. Alex felt the pressure of the upcoming performance bearing down on him. He hadn't slept in days. He was supposed to be the lead guitarist, but his fingers felt clumsy, his mind racing, and he was convinced he was going to fail. Lily, his niece, was backstage, and her presence, though usually a comfort, now felt like another responsibility. He noticed a drawing taped to his guitar case; a creature with a crown of thorns and shimmering wings. "That's Sunstar," Lily had stated, her eyes shining with joy. The Sunstar of his childhood, the source of his imagination. Alex felt a cold sweat break out on his skin, a feeling that wouldn't go away. He couldn't breathe.