the name of the game - e.j caswell

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Annalise Wright sat backstage in front of a brightly lit mirror, carefully reapplying her lipstick and touching up her blush. Her hands trembled slightly, not from nerves about her role but from the sheer excitement of performing in the ensemble on the closing night of their school's production of Mamma Mia. She adjusted the curls in her fiery red hair and leaned in closer to examine her makeup, ensuring everything was perfect. Just as she picked up her mascara wand, she felt a light tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she froze, letting out a quiet gasp. Standing behind her was Dani, the girl playing Sophie, tears streaming down her face and mascara smudged across her cheeks. "You... you're Annalise, right?" Dani asked shakily, her voice cracking under the weight of emotion. "You have to go on. You're Sophie's understudy... I can't do this right now." She thrust the costume into Annalise's hands, her movements hurried and almost desperate.

"I... Dani, no. It's closing night! Are you sure—" Annalise began, but Dani cut her off with a frantic nod, her dark hair whipping over her shoulder as she turned to leave. "Just... Sophie has braids for this act, and it's the 'Under Attack' scene. Here are her pajamas. You'll be great, I swear. I have to go," Dani stammered before rushing off, leaving Annalise standing there in stunned silence. The blue-striped pajamas in her hands felt heavier than they should have as her heart began to race. Before she could fully process what was happening, one of the costume designers appeared, gently but firmly pushing her toward the changing rooms. Annalise moved robotically, her thoughts a whirlwind of panic and determination. She quickly changed into the costume, her hands fumbling with the buttons as the reality of the moment settled in. Once dressed, she braided her long red hair into two quick plaits, took a deep breath, and rushed out to the wings of the stage.

The stage manager's voice echoed, counting down: "You're on in 3... 2... 1!" Without hesitation, Annalise hurried onto the stage and climbed into the small bed positioned for the scene. As the spotlight hit her, she began to sing, her voice steady and clear despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. To her surprise, everything felt... right. The lines and lyrics she had rehearsed countless times as an understudy flowed effortlessly. As she performed, her confidence grew, and a bright smile spread across her face when she spotted her parents and boyfriend sitting in the audience, beaming with pride. The rush of the performance was exhilarating, and by the time she finished the "Under Attack" scene and hurried offstage to change for "Our Last Summer," she felt invincible. She slipped into the pink and blue swimsuit and layered a light blue cover-up on top, her mind buzzing with excitement. For a moment, everything was perfect.

But that moment didn't last. "How much time until I go back on?" Annalise asked, looking around at the bustling backstage crew. Instead of answering, they exchanged uneasy glances, their faces heavy with an emotion she couldn't place. "Guys?" she repeated, laughing nervously. Finally, a girl with short blue hair stepped forward, her voice quiet. "Annie... it's your dad," she said, her tone full of pity. Annalise froze, her heart pounding as she scanned the audience again, realizing her parents and boyfriend were no longer in their seats. "Where is he?" she demanded, her voice trembling. The silence around her was deafening until a boy in a white and red letterman jacket pushed through the crowd. "Annie, your dad... he had a heart attack," he said softly, his dark eyes filled with sympathy. Annalise's world tilted as the words sank in, and she followed him out of the theater in a daze.

The sharp, alternating flashes of red and blue from the ambulance pierced the night, casting haunting reflections on the windows of North High School. The crowd that had gathered outside was eerily silent, their murmurs hushed as if afraid to disturb the tense, fragile moment unfolding before them. Annalise's chest tightened as she spotted the stretcher surrounded by paramedics, their urgent voices blending into a blur of incomprehensible commands. Her mother knelt beside her father, clutching his hand with a desperation that made Annalise's stomach churn. The sight of her mother's tear-streaked face and trembling shoulders shattered something inside her. "Dad!" she screamed, her voice cracking under the weight of her fear as she sprinted forward, her only thought to reach him. But before she could close the distance, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her, stopping her in her tracks. She writhed against the restraint, her panic escalating. "Where are you taking him? Mom, where is he going?" she cried, her voice trembling with desperation. Her mother turned to look at her, but no words came, just a small, helpless shake of her head. That silent response made Annalise's knees feel weak, as if the ground beneath her was crumbling.