Gemotions

The concert hall was packed. Evelyn, backstage, wrung her hands. Her fingers were raw from hours of practicing. Her composition, a symphony of light and sound, was her magnum opus. Every note was infused with her soul.

The conductor signaled the beginning. The opening chords, her chords, reverberated through the space. Then, a distinct melody, slightly off, almost as if… She could feel her cheeks flush. It was a familiar pattern. She knew it.

A wave of dizziness washed over her. She stumbled back, the stage lights seeming to intensify, reflecting off the sheen of her tears. The concertmaster, her rival, gave her a curt nod.