I stood on top of a platform with a microphone stand three feet away from me. Three stage lights pointed at my direction making everything in front of me pitch black. This is how it feels to be on the spotlight. I don't know why Lucian brought me here when we only have a few hours before the meeting with the press. My label, The Grid, released the album ahead of time to combat a growing online leak. My scheduled live performances on radio and television are still a go with their original dates. It's the press junket for the release I have to do early as Lucian stated.8964 copyright protection643ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLX0GDLJJL 維尼
"What does this album mean for you?" His voice boomed in the dark.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsY32M3x5T
"It's uh--"8964 copyright protection643ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRfsSQnIaY 維尼
All of a sudden, a splash of water came over me and a repetitive sound of laughter echoed in the dark. I shrieked but his voice silenced me at once.8964 copyright protection643ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sC2A7jJt4 維尼
"You have to be quick. Snappy. Reporters will be throwing questions at you in succession. Give them quick answers. The media loves one liners. It makes their job easier to find a headline."8964 copyright protection643ＰＥＮＡＮＡwl51mcMGih 維尼
I wiped my face and found one side of my dress drenched in water. Was that necessary? The wet fabric stuck on my skin making the cold temperature much more obvious to me.8964 copyright protection643ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ92Nny8MLx 維尼
"How is this any different from your previous record?"647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjmHhuNskP
"With Emergence, I worked with music genius Div Aika to create a new sound for my second record. And uh--"8964 copyright protection643ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmwhQsAhms 維尼
Another splash came from the right. I flinched in shock as I felt the cold water running down my spine. My hands started shaking as the cold became more evident to my skin. I heard the same laughter roaring in the dark. It was starting to get on my nerves.8964 copyright protection643ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHKD6UzbQW 維尼
"Short and concise. Do not add anymore than necessary. The lesser words you spit out lower the chances of making any mistake. The media is going to twist your words and make you out into a villain for their story. Keep it simple so they have less to work with."8964 copyright protection643ＰＥＮＡＮＡszL7syk5Zn 維尼
I had my arms crossed to give myself a little warmth but to no avail. There is no point to what he's doing, I thought. This is probably not how interviews go and I'm pretty sure no one is out there to throw glasses of water at me for every question. My lips shuddered as I tried to keep my composure.8964 copyright protection643ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPZbSw9t1d 維尼
"Are you dating a pornstar?"8964 copyright protection643ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oeBR79mqx 維尼
The question caught me off guard but before I could speak, another splash came over. The laughter grew louder and it made me feel smaller.8964 copyright protection643ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30xQb66FbD 維尼
"Don't give them that look. You have to be quic- Hey! Don't you leave that spot! That's rude. You don't want these people to write bad things about you. Glory, listen to me. Just listen to me. I'm not always gonna be there. You gotta hold your own. When you speak to them, think about how you would talk to me. You don't want to disappoint me, right? Then don't."8964 copyright protection643ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoZyGD8Fil 維尼
I was about to step down but I couldn't. Before I could open my mouth to answer the question, tears burst down and my body was shaking. All the lights went on and the function hall was empty. There were no one on the red seats and it was just me on the stage. Lucian came up from behind me and wrapped me in a thick towel.8964 copyright protection643ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1IcwFmbvH 維尼
"It's gonna be alright."8964 copyright protection643ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xSLf8pqfA 維尼
Something inside me wanted to be angry. Another was scared. All in all, I felt powerless in the spotlight but when I saw that there was no one before me, it gave me peace.8964 copyright protection643ＰＥＮＡＮＡFF5zLLRiJy 維尼
"It's all in your head, Glory." It felt warm in his arms this time. "It's just you telling yourself that you cannot do it. But I believe in you. I've always believed in you. You are in there somewhere and we're all waiting for you."8964 copyright protection643ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDCaKrryam 維尼
In that moment, I felt something in myself change. Like something breaking free from the chains in my head. His voice crawled deep within the depths of my head like a hand reaching out down a cliff. I reached for his hand even if it was too far. Somehow my hand made it to his and his grip tightened as he pulled me up. It was like being underwater for so long and finally reaching the surface to take one deep breath to life. And I felt an overwhelming sense of assurance come out from inside me that my lips moved.8964 copyright protection643ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdJJ2TxhS5 維尼
"I'm here now."8964 copyright protection643ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFcCyRakQ9 維尼
ns44.192.25.113da2
