The Face.

My footsteps echoed as I walked up the steps, the blazing heat from the stage lights beating down on my face and the top of my head, threatening to burst into flames. I hear the rustle of people shifting in the hard, uncomfortable auditorium chairs. Someone coughs. The back doors open and blinding light floods the large room. I briefly make out faces in the audience but the light disappears before I can fully recognize anyone. I feel everyone's eyes on me as I continue walking across the stage, stumbling here and there. My heart pounds in my chest feeling as if it's about to break through my chest. The pianist gives me an encouraging smile which I feebly return. My cheeks are burning. They're turning a deep crimson. I scan the crowd looking for a face, the one face that will reassure me as I take the microphone from the stand. The face I long to see is lost in the dark sea of faces. I drop my eyes back to floor and the pianist begins playing the first few notes.