In the gloomy lit audition room, the spotlight fixated on the nervous auditionee, Alex. My heart pounded like a drum in the stillness, and a thick blanket of tension enveloped me. The judges, their faces etched in confusion, gazed intently at me, their eyes filled with anticipation, waiting for my performance to begin.
As I stood there, my breath quivered through the microphone pinned to my dress, creating a faint, eerie echo in the hushed room. My trembling hands clung tightly to the fabric of my dress, moisture seeping through my palms. I attempted to speak, to act, to deliver my lines, but the words remained trapped within me, stifled by fear and uncertainty.
A kind-hearted judge finally broke the silence, concern evident in her voice. "Are you okay, Miss Alex?" She inquired. I nodded, but the fear loomed heavy in my eyes, the fear of what might happen if I didn't comply with the demands of my controlling boyfriend.
Back in the reception room, my sister's hands clenched to her chest, mirroring the same anxiety that gripped me. She watched her sister's trembling form on the television screen, breath held as she waited for any sign of a breakthrough.
The audience, growing increasingly impatient, began to question among themselves, "What's she doing? Why can't she utter a word? Is she left spellbound?" Frustration simmered, and they resorted to fervently chanting, "Go Alex, Go Alex!" in a desperate attempt to motivate me.
In the audition room, after what felt like an eternity, I finally found my voice. "I'm sorry, I can't," I whispered, my words carrying the weight of my internal struggle. Shock rippled through the room as the judges and directors exchanged puzzled glances.
"Huh?!" echoed from the reception room as the viewers couldn't believe their eyes.
"What the hell, Alex? C'mmon! Show them what you got!" David screamed.
In the audition room, a judge addressed me with a tone of concern, "Miss Alex, are you aware that if you turn down this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, you won't get another chance?... It could affect your career and your mental health," another judge added with sincerity.
"Alex, this has always been your dream, why do you want to quit it? Refusing this role can eliminate your chances in the university and also, an opportunity to get into ASP. I ask you, Miss Alex Finnman, do you want to toss this opportunity given to you like garbage or you reconsider your decision and seize your moment? The choice is yours to make". The chief director said.
Back in the reception area, whispers of disbelief and frustration surged through the crowd. "Is she crazy? I can't believe I wasted my precious time rooting for this girl." someone muttered under their breath.
In the audition room, I, standing tall, my tears falling like rain, reached down, plucked the microphone from my dress, and let it crash to the floor as I hastily departed the audition room.
With trembling steps, I fled, my sobs echoing in the corridor. "Next, Theresa Christopher," one of the judges announced, but the room was haunted by the absence of the girl who had faltered in the grip of her boyfriend's manipulation.
Outside, my tears streaked my face as Lisa and David pursued me, desperate to offer consolation.
In the audition room, the next actress, Theresa, my closest friend, bravely took the stage and delivered a performance that earned her the coveted role. It was the role that I could never perform, all because of the dark influence that had held me captive. A role that would've accelerated me swiftly to the top; the same role I rejected.
In my room, shadows danced across the walls like phantoms, reflecting the chaos within my heart. My room, once a place of solace, now felt like a prison of emotions too overwhelming to contain. Tears streamed down my cheeks, staining my face, as my cries resonated with the ache of an anguished soul.
Outside, my sister, Lisa, wrapped in concern, knocked gently on the door. The sound was like a whisper of hope, a lifeline amid my despair. But I, Alex, lost in the web of my emotions, couldn't bear the intrusion, and my voice trembled as I choked back sobs.
"Go away!" I yelled, my voice quivering with the weight of my pain. My plea was more than just words; it was a desperate cry for solitude, a plea for the world to stop for a moment and let me catch my breath. The door seemed to echo my sorrow, bearing silent witness to the storm of emotions that raged within me.
On the other side, my sister, torn between concern and the need to respect her sister's anguish, hesitated for a moment. Then, with a heavy heart, she slowly retreated from the door, leaving me to grapple with my emotions in the isolation of my room.
In that fragile moment, the silent, unspoken connection between us, filled with love and empathy, hung heavy in the air, transcending the physical barrier of the closed door.
After a while, I let myself drift into the arms of sleep.
***
As the first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the curtains, the young actress who had voluntarily refused a lead role in a movie, stirred in her bed, her eyes puffy and her cheeks stained from the tears that had kept her company through the night. The room, bathed in a soft, gentle glow, felt heavy with the residue of her heartache.
A fragile, melodic bird's song outside my window beckoned me to consciousness. With a stretch that seemed to release the weight of the world, I reached for my phone on the nightstand. The device flickered to life, bathing my face in its soft blue glow as I logged into Instagram, seeking a semblance of normalcy in the updates from my school.
As my finger swiped through my news feed, the world around me seemed to vanish, replaced by the posts of my colleagues and schoolmates congratulating Theresa. My heart sank as I saw the exuberant celebrations of Theresa's successful entry into a lead role in Linejet Productions. The ache in my chest deepened, but I continued scrolling, not wanting to dwell on the reminder of my disappointment.
Then, like a punch to the gut, a video caught my eye. It was a recording of myself running out of the audition room, tears streaming down my face. My embarrassment turned to frustration as I hissed and flicked past it, unwilling to relive the moment of vulnerability.
But in that very instant, a message notification beeped insistently on my phone. I opened it, and the video that played before my eyes left me speechless. My heart pounded, and tears welled up as the truth unfolded before me.
The harsh reality hit me, and I could no longer contain my grief. Tears streamed down my cheeks, blurring my vision. The weight of betrayal and lost opportunities hung heavily on my shoulders.
Suddenly, the chime of the house bell reverberated through the quiet morning, jolting me from my revelation. My sister's voice called from downstairs, "David is outside looking for you, Alex."
Wiping away the remnants of my tears, I stood up, my nightgown clinging to my form, and descended the stairs to meet David. The shock of what I had discovered was etched across my face as I faced him.
"Good morning, Babe," he greeted, unaware of what was to come. "How're you..."
My open palm met his cheek with a resounding slap, the sound echoing through the hallway. David, stunned and holding his reddened cheek, looked at me with a confused expression. My sister stared in disbelief. I glared at him. Lisa gaped at us.
"You fückīng bāstård!" I yelled at him.