Gemotions

The stadium lights were blinding. Maya stood backstage, a knot of anxiety tightening with each passing second. She’d given up on ever hearing her song, *“Crimson Sky,”* performed again. The band’s soundcheck started, and she flinched, bracing herself for disappointment. Then, the familiar opening chords. Her breath caught. The singer’s voice was better than she'd imagined; filled with a power she'd only dreamed of. Her tense grip on the water bottle loosened. A weight seemed to lift from her shoulders, and a genuine smile broke through. She was allowed to feel it again. She allowed herself to feel the music.