High Hopes

The Spotlight

The following week felt like a whirlwind. Every day after school, Avery met Leo at his cousin's place-a cramped apartment with mismatched furniture, stacks of vinyl records, and a small makeshift recording setup in the corner of the living room. It wasn't glamorous, but it was perfect.

Leo was patient, listening as she practiced, offering advice on her vocal control and helping her experiment with new melodies. He had an ear for music that Avery admired, and his belief in her talent pushed her to work harder than ever.

"Alright," Leo said one afternoon, adjusting the microphone stand. "Let's try that last verse one more time. Give it everything you've got."

Avery took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she strummed her guitar. Her fingers had long since started to ache, but she pushed through, letting her voice rise and fall with the emotions she poured into the song. When she finished, the room was quiet, and she opened her eyes to find Leo grinning.

"That was incredible, Avery. You're ready," he said, his tone filled with certainty.

She felt a thrill at his words, but doubt lingered in the back of her mind. What if she froze on stage? What if the judges saw her as just another girl with a half-baked dream? She tried to shake off the thoughts, knowing they wouldn't help her now.

"Thanks, Leo," she murmured, glancing down at her guitar. "I still can't believe I'm actually going to do this."

Leo chuckled, clapping her on the shoulder. "Believe it. You've got the talent, Avery. Now you just need to trust yourself."

As the day of the competition approached, Avery's nerves grew. She went through her routine at home as usual-cooking dinner for Eli, helping him with his homework, and making sure he had everything he needed for the next day. Her mom noticed her extra energy, her frequent humming as she moved around the house, and gave her an encouraging nod.

"Are you sure you're okay, sweetheart?" her mom asked one night. "You've been... different lately."

Avery hesitated, unsure if she was ready to tell her mom about the competition. But something in her mom's gaze-an understanding, perhaps, or maybe just the slightest hint of pride-pushed her to speak.

"I... I signed up for this talent competition," she said quietly. "It's just something I wanted to try."

Her mom's eyes softened, and she reached out to squeeze Avery's hand. "You've always loved to sing. I may not understand it completely, but I know it makes you happy. And if it's important to you, it's important to me too."

Avery felt a warmth bloom in her chest, relief mixing with gratitude. For once, it seemed like the people in her life were cheering her on, lifting her up instead of weighing her down.

The night before the competition, she barely slept. Her mind raced with a thousand "what ifs," her hands itching to rehearse just one more time. But by the time dawn broke, she knew she'd done all she could. She had poured her heart into this, and all that was left was to let it shine.

The lights were blinding as Avery stepped onto the stage the next evening, her hands slick with sweat as she gripped her guitar. The small crowd sat in shadow, an indistinct sea of faces that she tried not to focus on. Somewhere out there, Leo was watching, probably with that same encouraging grin he always had. And, to her surprise, so was her mom-standing in the back, giving her a small wave that made Avery's heart skip.

She took a shaky breath, letting the microphone catch her first, soft notes. The song started slowly, her voice low and uncertain, but as she continued, she found her footing. Her fingers danced over the guitar strings, and she closed her eyes, letting herself sink into the music.

This was her moment. No fear, no doubts-just her, her voice, and her dream.

When she finished, the room fell silent for what felt like an eternity. Then, the applause came, filling the space and washing over her in a wave of sound. Avery's chest swelled with pride, and she couldn't help the tear that slipped down her cheek. For the first time, she had given her dream everything she had.

As she stepped off the stage, Leo rushed over to her, a grin stretching across his face. "You killed it, Avery. Absolutely killed it."

And just behind him, her mom stood, her eyes shining with something Avery had never seen before-complete and utter pride.

At that moment, Avery knew she was no longer just dreaming. She was living it, one note at a time.