Gemotions

The concert hall was a blur of faces and flashing lights. Emily had arrived feeling crushed by self-doubt, worried her new album had flopped. But as the opening chords of "Golden Hour" – her song – filled the arena, a wave of warmth spread through her. The audience was singing along.

She was backstage, watching the performance on a monitor, but the cheers and energy of the song seemed to travel through the walls. Her breath came easier. Her fingers twitched as if she needed to conduct. There was an ease to the pain in her muscles.

She whispered, "They like it." The pressure in her chest released like a punctured balloon. She smiled. She felt as though she could fly.