As the make up team finished up the most unnecessary details of my face, I could feel the heavy amounts of make up applied to my skin. I knew this only meant I'd break out later when I'd take it all off. I walked over the dress crew, ready for these strangers to undress me and redress me as I changed each set. I was nervous. This was it. This was my big break; all my dreams were about to come true. I could hear my father's voice in the back of my head saying, "You did it, honey. You've made me proud." And in that second, I smiled ever so slightly before stepping foot on stage. I could hear the screaming and crying from the many beloved attendees. I felt the blood rush to my head when I heard the manager in my ear piece say, "you're on in 3, 2, 1..."
The moment I stepped on stage was surreal. The world around me didn't feel real at all. I felt like I was floating in a void disguised as my actual life. The lights went up, the dancers came out, the beat of my song started, and at that moment, I felt alive. I began to dance the choreography I learned so effortlessly. My body moved like a graceful doe. I felt the air blow through my hair, the smile on my face grow bigger and bigger with every dance move I did. With every lyric that came out my mouth, a perfectly matching note was paired with each word. I gave it my all. I wanted to make my first show, my best show. It was something I'd remember to the end of my life.
As the song concluded, I dashed across stage. I didn't want to miss a second of what was going on. I ran up to the screaming fans. I touched as many hands as possible, giving them a big squeeze. I wanted them to feel valued. I wanted them to know I cared about every single one of them. I wanted to somehow thank them for making my dream come true by making their dreams come true.
Continuing the show, I had run off stage. Things were just as crazy as they were on stage. I felt the sweat drip down my back, now realizing that the garment that had covered my upper body was removed and was being replaced with an entirely different garment. I was being pushed around as these people frantically changed my clothes for me, laced up my boots and gave me water to keep hydrated. It felt like a matter of seconds before I ran back on stage, ready to do the whole thing over again, except, each time I would do a different song, I felt more and more alive. I felt the blood in my fingertips move as fast as my mind was. I felt all the eyes on me, and again, I smiled.
I looked out to the crowd, smiling from ear to ear, singing as loud as I possibly could. This is it. This is my dream, and I get to do this every single night for the rest of my life. Oh, how I've made my father proud. If he were here to see this, I know he wouldn't have wished for me to have any less than what I deserve. He gave me my chance, and for that, I am proud to say that my father is my hero.
The final song was performed. With the last costume change, I felt my body ache a little. It ached in a way it had never done before. It was an ache of satisfaction; an ache of joy. I fell to my knees in front of the crowd. I breathed a heavy breath and said, "Thank you everyone for making my first concert, the best concert of my life. You guys have given me the dream I've always dreamed of. My heart is flooded with joy, my eyes are filled with tears, and I can feel the ache in my body saying, "Think about all the times you'll get to do this again." You all are my heroes, my inspirations, my muses." I blew a kiss, rose to the occasion, and ran off stage, ready to do it all over again the next night.
