Stage Fright

The audience clapped for the person ahead of me and I felt a rush of nervousness at having to go up there next. I took a deep breath before trudging onto the stage. I stopped in the center and faced the audience the lights shining on my face nearly blinding. I spotted my friend in the front row who gave me a smile and a thumbs up. I knew that no matter what I did they would clap but I still couldn’t help but feel overwhelming tension as I started speaking. Throughout my monologue there was silence from the audience. I stumbled over my lines stuttering and hesitating just trying to focus on remembering them. I felt my legs start to shake like they were about to give way beneath me. I couldn’t fall. Not now. Not after all the practicing I did. I would make it through. I have to. I was about halfway through when I forgot what to say next. The time it took me to remember them seemed like an eternity though it was probably only a few seconds. I recited the last words of the prologue and just like I thought the audience clapped as I stepped off stage. Sitting back in my seat I knew it probably wasn’t as bad as I thought it was, however I couldn’t shake this feeling of anxiety. My heart was still beating quickly five minutes after my performance.