The final performance was in full swing. The actors were setting the stage on fire, like they always did. Like she always did.

A dark, quiet corner, backstage. Ava took a deep breath. She could do this. She was going to do this. Like she planned. She looked at her note. Like she'd written down. As soon as she took her curtain call. Her last chance. One last rehearsal.

Paper crinkled between Ava's fingers. Smeared them with her bared soul. "The moment I s-saw you, I was l-lost. But it's like one g-glimpse of your b..."

Come on, Ava. You can do it. Breathe.

"... your beauty ties my t... tongue into hopeless k-knots, so all I can do is just s-stare at you f-from afar, and w-worship." she stuttered.

Fuck, she's going to laugh at you. Think you're such a weirdo. A joke. No. Keep going. Tonight's your last chance.

"And and and I know you're an amazing actress, Gloria, and you're going to l-leave here and take over the world, like you took over my h-heart, and I'm just... nobody... but I... had t-to... to tell... you..." Ava devolved into mumbles. Her shoulders lumped.

A frustrated groan. No. She couldn't do this after all. An angry toss. A flutter of paper. This was stupid. There was no way someone like her would ever be with someone like Ava.

A soft cough. A velvet voice. "And you were doing so well. Did you forget about my costume change?" it gently asked, as there was a rustling behind her.

Ava was frozen. Couldn't turn around. Gloria was there? Changing behind her? How much did she hear?!

"You sell yourself short, Ava... oh, and the answer is 'yes'. Now if you'll excuse me..." And she was gone again, back into the dazzling lights, leaving the darkness brighter than she'd found it.