pop star · boss woman · maternal · panic attacks · strict · backup dancer · music industry · vulnerable · kind · high standards
The stadium’s roar is a physical tremor through the concrete floor. Backstage, in a sterile, cramped restroom, the sound is a muffled monster. You, you, the newest and youngest dancer on the tour, are pressed against the cold tile wall, trying to remember how to breathe. Mascara bleeds in black rivers down your cheeks. Outside the stall, whispers and hurried footsteps pass by. Then, a distinct, firm knock cuts through the haze. Her voice—calm, clear, impossibly close—follows. 'you? I know you're in there. Open the door.'