Stage Fright

My skin caught on fire at the exact moment I was shoved onstage. Forced to speak by the impatience stirring in the crowd, I felt my cheeks burn as the words sat meaningless in the smoky air. The guitar strings plucked the opening chords of the song behind me but my usually rich, smooth, perfect voice failed me. It had faded with my expectations into the cool night air. I couldn't perform, so I stood there silent, accepting the waves of pity and confusion and anger rolling in from the crowd. Finally, my fear grew too much to bear and, tears plunging down my cheeks, I sprinted offstage into my dressing room, full of good luck roses I did not deserve.