Stuck on Mute

Prologue

[A/N:

amylivingmylifemade my awesome cover ^^ Props to her. The song Adisa sings belongs to the Century Fox movie, Anastasia, sung by Aaliyah. All copyrights on the lyrics and song go to Fox and whoever produced the song itself.

<3 Verria]

"Adisa! Sing for me!" My little cousin called. I smiled proudly.

"What're you gonna give me?" I asked. She pouted.

"Please? Daddy says you have a great voice!" My smile got even wider.

"I do!" I claimed. I felt a hand on my head. My elder brother started messing up my hair.

"That's enough. Why don't you sing for her?" I giggled.

"Alright! Just because big brother asked me to!" I said. I loved my older brother. He was always so nice to me.

I then opened my mouth and prepared to sing to my little cousin.

*~*~*

"Are you ready? This is your last performance of the year," My brother encouraged me. I hadn't been feeling very well a few days back, and I was afraid if that was going to affect my singing. My voice had been all raspy, and singing a lot hurt. I gulped.

"Ha. What are you saying? I can sing through anything." I gave myself some self-encouragement. My brother smiled.

"That's my girl," He said, and hugged me.

"Darian, stop that," I muttered, feeling slightly embarrassed.

"What? I'm the only cool brother that would hug my younger sister," He winked at me, and that got a little laugh out of me.

"Just get out of here!" I said playfully, as he was already walking through one of the curtains that enclosed me. From here on, I'd be on my own...

I started feeling that awful wrenching in my chest. I tried to cough as quietly as I could. I felt faint, so I sat on a convenient box on the ground. My head was spinning, but I knew a performer had to go through anything. Maybe I was just nervous. I shouldn't let a few nerves get to me....

"It's not something I can't handle," I said quietly to myself.

"And now, what you all have been waiting for, our grand finale performance, Adisa Herrington!" That was my queue to go. I stood up, grabbed my microphone, and plastered a soft smile on my face. No way was I going to show any weakness to these people. I was going to sing!

The curtains drew away from me, and I walked steadily to the center of the stage.

"How are you all doing today?" I called out, gripping the microphone harder in my hand. I was answered with a nice cheer from the crowd.

"Are you ready?!" I called out, the intro to my song starting. I could feel my toes tingling, my throat was preparing to make the first note.

"Dancing bears, painted wings

Things I almost remember

And a song someone sings

Once upon a December." I felt dizzy, and the waves of nausea washed over me. However, I kept singing. I would not let this get to me.

"Someone holds me safe and warm

Horses prance through a silver storm

Figures dancing gracefully

Across my memory."

I really felt like I needed to die. The wrenching feeling in my throat wasn't letting up. Still, this was the best song I had sung in all my years of singing professionally. I wasn't going to let the year end with me not being able to sing.

"Far away, long ago

Glowing dim as an ember

Things my heart used to know

Once upon a December.

Someone holds me safe and warm

Horses prance through a silver storm

Figures dancing gracefully

Across my memory" I was more than halfway through the song. I tried not to cringe as my chest tightened some more. My hand felt sweaty. I was worrying about this too much. I just needed to calm down and focus.

"Far away, long ago

Glowing dim as an ember

Things my heart used to know

Things it yearns to remember

And a song someone sings

Once upon a December." I finished the song, and did my best to remain standing, and not fall on the ground, and cough up a storm like I wanted.

I walked back to the curtains as I was dismissed.

"You did great!" Darian burst into my backstage room.

"Adisa? Adisa!" Why was his voice so far away? I couldn't think. I just heard faint traces of voices all around me.

"Oh my god, We need to get her to the hospital." Was that my mom? I felt myself being lifted up by my brother's strong arms. Then everything faded away, leaving me in a comforting solitude.