Gemotions

The warm wood of the stage was familiar under her feet. Maria smiled. The spotlight felt like a comforting embrace. Tonight was the premiere, and she knew her cues, the choreography, the faces in the audience. She could almost feel Mr. Dubois, her director, standing just offstage, a reassuring presence, his quiet nod a steady pulse in the chaos of opening night. He had guided her through every rehearsal for the last decade, and she couldn't imagine a show without him.

The understudy whispered, "Mr. Dubois won't be here tonight. He had to retire suddenly."

Maria’s throat went dry. The stage lights blurred. The music felt distorted. The feeling within her that had so often bloomed into life on that stage, withered at that moment.