Lillian walked on to the stage.

Her feet were like iron weights,

echoing through the giant room.

The brilliants lights

beat down on her,

exposing her to crowd.

Lillian looked up

the dark faces staring back at her.

Just the thought

of hundreds of eyes

judging

her

every

movement

made her shiver.

She stepped on the bright pink X,

put the mic to her mouth

and said a quiet hello to the judges,

who sat back in their leather chairs,

their red buzzers glowed

like hot coals,

burning into her confidence.

One of the judges yawned

and leaned towards his mic.

He sighed,

“And what’s your name?”

“Lillian”

“And what will you be singing for us today?”

“Listen by Beyoncé”

He nodded and sat back.

Some of the other judges snickered.

Then

the music began.

Her hands began to shake

and she gripped the microphone,

her knuckles starting to turn white.

In that moment

a thousand things

went through her head

What am I doing?

I’m going to mess up.

Can I just walk off?

Shoot, I didn’t feed the cat.

Lillian took a deep breath

and started to sing…

Listen,

to the song here in my heart

A melody I start,

But can’t

complete.

She felt the music

coarse through her blood,

flowing to every part of her body.

It wrapped around her

like a warm blanket,

and it was saying to her

It’s going to be okay.

Lillian’s hands stopped shaking.

She closed her eyes.

The nervousness melted away.

All Lillian could hear

was the music

and her heartbeat.

The chorus was coming.

She inhaled and

with the power of

a lion’s roar,

sang the lyrics.

Lillian opened her eyes.

The judges looked at her

like deer in headlights.

The crowd was going

wild.

She smiled

and sang

the last notes.

But now I’ve got to find

my own,

MY OWN.

With all her strength

she held the note.

Jaws dropped.

The judges sprang

from their chairs

clapping.

Soon the whole room

was standing.

Lillian finished her note.

And the music ended.

The thunderous applause

almost knocked her over.

Lillian stood there frozen,

grinning like a maniac,

tearing up with joy.

She did it.