𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭

𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆

-Elsie's P.O.V-

My song was playing in the background as I was getting ready for my interview with one of the biggest talk shows in the world. I will be going internationally live tonight and my nerves were starting to kick in as I took deep breaths to calm down.

I needed to look impeccable, confident, and overall like a celebrity. Because that's what I was now, a singer whose album got sold out in less than a week after releasing.

I always dreamt of this day. Of the time that I would hear my name being chanted like crazy by the fans, I will appreciate it forever because they liked my music.

The songs I made would even play in the shops I'd go buy, before being bombarded by those who admired me. I always thought of this as a dream.

I was only five when I told my mother that being a singer was what I wanted to do when I grew up, and she helped me. Even after everything she did to me, even after all the pain, she was the first one to believe in my dreams one way or another.

Fixing the mic in my ear, I listen in on the host.

"Next we have a special guest. This girl has been a hit and reached number one in all international songs. Nominated to the best singer of the year, sold out all albums in one week, and reached more than one million followers on social media,"

My hands were sweaty as I fixed my dress and closed my eyes.

"Please welcome, Elsie Hayes!"

The backstage staff man pushes me forward signaling that I could now enter. The first thing I see when I step out is the big and luminous lights that will be blinding me during the interview.

The crowd goes wild as fans scream out my name and try to reach but are stopped by guards. My lips twitch into a big smile trying to give them my most happy self while here.

I sit down beside the host. She's wearing a red dress with black stilettos. Her hair is pushed to the side and her makeup is perfect, her face and body language showing me that this was nothing for her.

Meanwhile, I was shaking.

"Thanks so much for coming today to my show! It's truly an honor to have such a talented and stunning woman here with me." she greets me with a hug and kisses. She's so friendly.

Due to a few complications backstage, I wasn't able to meet her before now.

I thank her. "Thank you for having me. I've always wanted to come and talk here. Thanks to you I'm living the dream."

She gives me a playful scoff. "Oh please, the dream? Girl this is just the start," I nervously laugh. "First off, tell me how are you?"

How am I? Nervous, shaking, literally feel like I'm about to puke. Everything someone shouldn't be doing in front of cameras. "I'm fine, thank you. How are you? I heard you gave birth to a daughter." I had to have some kind conversation before we dived into the reason I'm here.

She awes. "My baby girl is healthy and at home."

"Well, tell her I said hi." I smile.

"I sure will," then the room is silenced down making it known we were now starting the questions and all that. "Elsie Hayes, a girl who grew up in a big city with a big dream. Tell us how you knew you wanted to become a singer?"

My hands lay on my thighs as I try wiping that cold moist and avoid shifting. "Well," where do I even start? "It might have started in the shower if I'm being honest." I joked but didn't at the same time.

I do think I got the idea while being in the shower.

She laughs at me, her name is Scarlett. Forgot for a moment there. "Oh God, really? Were you singing there? Did it sound good?" her eyes shift from me to the crowd and back to me.

"I like to think I sounded somewhat good. My mother did say that I always had the voice to sing." my mother never said that. But they shouldn't know that.

"When did you compose your first song?"

I put on a thinking face. "Ten maybe? Surely it was a birthday song for my cousin. I didn't want her to have the same old traditional one for her party. So I made one up," I giggled. "Didn't have much rhythm."

Everyone was looking and listening intently. They all wanted every single bit that came out of our mouths as the big blinding lights caused me to blink here and there with strength.

We talked about my family, fans, even some guy friends who have become rumors of dating. Everything. It felt like for hours I had been sitting there but truly it had only been about thirty minutes.

I had loosened up and laid back as confidence reached me and I could speak more securely. It was all fine until she asked me the one thing I wanted to avoid.

"Now, your biggest song. The one you started with and took off," here it goes. "More Than Ever. That's truly a special one."

I wanted to crawl into a ball now. "Yes, it is..." I give her a nervous laugh.

"Is it true?"

"What is?" please don't ask. I beg you please don't.

She gives me a small pat. "Is it inspired in that one love? The slow pace at the beginning then the rock at the second half. It sounds like an interesting story."

I know she was just doing her job. She only wants to know what people want to know. They pay her for this and she is doing it nicely. But still, speaking about that one song, that one man, was like driving a stake through my chest.

"Yes, it is..." I couldn't lie. The song said everything without much context. Might as well explain something so no rumors are started.

Scarlett gasps and takes a sip from her cup of water. "Do we know him?" she's too into this.

I breathe deeply and sighed. "I can't tell you much because that part of my life is one I'd like to keep private, buried and a secret," the entire crowd starts mumbling. "But I can say that he inspired me a lot. Not just for the song."

"He did? How come?" she asks.

I look at the crowd, then at the staff. For a moment I swear I could see his handsome face through the blinding lights, or maybe I was imagining it. That brought me goosebumps.

"He inspired me to become what I am today."

At the end of the day, that monster that ruined me, inspired me to be strong and brave.