She felt the rumble before she heard it: a gentle buzz that set the hairs on her arms tingling. It was a long way off, though; not something she needed to be concerned with. Or at least that’s what she told herself. She concentrated fiercely on adjusting the buttons on her blouse and smoothing the fabric, all the while urging her feet to keep moving. Don’t worry.
Yet the vibration and sound were insistent. A deep, sonorous hum was building, moving closer and becoming more urgent. She paused and closed her eyes as bright flashes of anxiety started to leak their way across her vision. Breathe, she whispered, just breathe. It will pass.
Forcing her feet forwards again, her body soon resonated with the sound: a thundering that shook the ground beneath her. Sweat prickled her scalp and ran in an icy trail down her back. Relax, she urged herself, It will be ok. You can do this.
Finally as the rumble became a roar and the air trembled with shouts and cries, she reached the curtain. Pasting a smile on her face she stepped out of the wings. The lights were dazzling and the calls of her fans escalated as she walked to the centre of the stage.
A hush fell as she picked up the microphone. The audience held its breath. Then as her voice soared out over the concert hall she felt her fears fall away. Anxiety fragmented with every note and drifted away leaving behind only the beauty and purity of her song.
Written for The Prompt – this week it was ‘Thunder’
Also linking up with Wonderful World of Writing and Friday Fiction:
Fabulous as always! You’ve depicted stage fright just perfectly
#ThePrompt
Thanks!
That’s very clever. I had no idea what that was going to be and I could feel her tension during the build up. Great idea to do a fiction post for #ThePrompt. Thanks for linking it to Friday Fiction too.
I love using #theprompt for fiction – it’s amazing what one little word can trigger! I’m glad to have found #fridayfiction now too and plan on linking up again when I can! Thanks for commenting Nicola x
Wow, this is very clever. ! was hooked! #theprompt
Glad it drew you in Zena! Thanks for commenting.
This is brilliant, I had no idea where it was going until she reached the edge of the stage! What a wonderful description of fear and a great interpretation of #ThePrompt, thanks so much for linking up.
thanks Sara, I was trying to keep the reader’s anticipation going until she reached the curtain – kind of to reflect her own anticipation of going on stage and her audience’s anticipation of hearing her sing. Thanks for another great prompt ( I love the one word ones in particular!) x
You can feel the vibrations of the music (and possibly her pounding heart?) perfectly through your writing. Love it! Thanks for linking up with #WonderfulWorldofWriting
Thanks Carol. I was imagining she was a singing star leaving her dressing room and walking to the stage to perform. She could hear the audience cheering and clapping knowing she was due on stage any second. The ‘thunder’ is the sound of her awaiting fans, but also reflects her emotion, music building and her heartbeat too, you’re right! X
Brilliant – loved the start, was hooked straight away and could really feel her tension. A fabulous depiction of stage fright, really enjoyed reading it
Thanks Louise! Xx
Fantastic – you’ve captured so much here by using thunder as a metaphor to convey the building cacophony of applause, and the contrast that comes at the end when she breaks into song works perfectly
Thanks Sophie, glad you think it works -i loved yours!
Love the twist. No way I could have imagined that ending! #theprompt
Thanks VaiChin – glad it surprised you!
Brilliant interpretation of #ThePrompt! As I was reading I wondered if she was a performer of some sort. I love it.
Ah so you sensed where it was going – it’s always hard to tell (when you know what you’re writing about) how obvious – or otherwise – it is to others. Thanks Morgan. xx
I remember those feelings. It’s definitely like a storm when you’re waiting to get out there and do your thing, everything bubbling just below the surface like the thick air and heavy pressure before that first lightning strike. You captured all of it brilliantly. x
Thanks Chrissie. I haven’t experienced stage fright for years (I used to be in bands and choirs) but the feeling kind of came back as I was writing! xx