Lilith's turn arrived. As Noah stepped off the stage, bathed in the afterglow of his performance, a spotlight focused on her.
Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and approached the stage with a forced smile on her face. It felt more like a mask than an expression, a habit she couldn't quite shake.
But as she grasped the microphone, a slight shift occurred. She glanced at Noah, his encouraging look and genuine awe washing away some of her nervousness. A flicker of something – a spark of warmth? – ignited in her eyes.
"Alright," she announced to the crowd, her voice slightly shaky but gaining strength with each word. "This one's a bit different."
A hush fell over the room as she began to sing. The song was a ballad, the melody starting slow and melancholic. The lyrics spoke of a wall she'd built around herself, a shield of coldness that kept the world at bay. It was a defense mechanism, a way to protect herself from getting hurt.
