Gladly Unexpected *Avani Gregg*

four

i finally get pulled on stage and i stand nervously with the mic in my hand.

simon : hello, who are you?
me : my name is emma jones. i am 17 years old.
heidi : and why are you here tonight?
me : tonight i'm going to sing. in elementary school, i found out that i loved basketball. basketball was basically my life. then in eighth grade during a game, i actually made the game winning shot, but when i landed, my feet landed wrong and i broke both of my ankles really bad. i couldn't play basketball anymore, so that's when i turned to music. and it was a big help in my recovery and i couldn't be more happy now. it's always been my dream to be on american idol. it could really help my career a lot.
howie : alright, let's hear it!

i steady my feet and hold the microphone in my sweaty hands. the music plays and i begin to sing the song "when i was your man" by bruno mars.

me :
same bed but it feels just a little bit bigger now
our song on the radio but it don't sound the same
when our friends talk about you, all it does is just tear me down
'cause my heart breaks a little when i hear your name

it all just sounds like ooh, ooh, ooh, oohooh
mm, too young, too dumb to realize
that i should have bought you flowers
and held your hand
should have given you all my hours
when i had the chance
take you to every party, 'cause all you wanted to do was dance

now my baby's dancing
but she's dancing with another man

my pride, my ego, my needs, and my selfish ways
caused a good strong woman like you to walk out my life
now i never, ever get to clean up the mess i made, oh
and it haunts me every time i close my eyes

it all just sounds like ooh, ooh, ooh, oohooh
mm, too young, too dumb to realize
that i should have bought you flowers
and held your hand
should have gave you all my hours
when i had the chance
take you to every party 'cause all you wanted to do was dance

now my baby's dancing
but she's dancing with another man

although it hurts
i'll be the first to say that i was wrong
oh, i know i'm probably much too late
to try and apologize for my mistakes
but i just want you to know

i hope he buys you flowers
i hope he holds your hand
give you all his hours
when he has the chance
take you to every party
'Cause i remember how much you loved to dance
do all the things i should have done
when i was your man
do all the things i should have done
when i was your man

- - - - -

i finally finish singing and i lower my microphone listening to the crowd. everyone is cheering and clapping and i got a standing ovation from all 4 judges.

i start crying a little bit.

sophia : emma, that was amazing! it was so beautiful and deep! i love your voice!
me : thank you!

my voice is shaky.

heidi : there is no way you're only 17! you have such a mature voice! i could listen to it for hours! you're by far my favorite singer here tonight. this voice right here is what i've been looking for. thank you for coming.

i laugh a little and smile, my eyes continuing to water.

me : thank you so much!
howie : emma, you have such a graceful voice. it's soothing, and calm, but at the same time, extremely powerful!
me : oh my god, thank you!
simon : mrs. jones, i think you might be my favorite act tonight. you're voice has a special tone to it that's just so mesmerizing. it's amazing.
me : thank you! it means so much to me!
simon : i'm going to start off the voting with a 100% yes! sophia?
sophia : yes, yes of course!
simon : howie?
howie : you've got three yesses.
simon : heidi?
heidi : emma. you've got such an awesome voice and vibe. you've got four yesses, and actually...

she stands up and hovers over the table. i watch as her hand lowers farther and farther toward the golden buzzer.

i hear a loud noise and confetti falls over the stage. i throw my hands over my mouth and i start to really cry. i don't have the microphone in front of my mouth anymore, so i'm talking to myself.

me : oh my god! oh my god! oh my god!

i fall to the ground on my knees and i'm freaking out. i look up and stand back up and keep my mouth covered.

i can see my family in the audience crying and celebrating. even mattia's crying, and that's super rare.