"Into the Spotlight"

As I sat on the hill, the woman's microphone thrust in my face, I felt a wave of panic wash over me. I looked out at the crowd, my eyes scanning the sea of faces, searching for a way out. But it was too late. The cameras were rolling, and I was live on air. The woman's smile never wavered as she pressed me for a response. "Sir, can you tell us your name, and what drives you to be so... spontaneous?" she asked, her voice dripping with enthusiasm. But I refused to answer. I looked away, trying to shut out the noise and the chaos, but it only seemed to amplify the feeling of unease that had settled in my stomach. I felt bad, like I was being ambushed, and I didn't know how to escape. The woman's smile began to falter, and she glanced off-camera, her eyes darting back to me. "Okay, well, it seems our guest is a bit shy," she said, trying to laugh it off. "Let's try to get him to open up. Can you tell us, sir, what you're feeling right now?" But I remained silent, my eyes fixed on some point beyond the crowd. I could feel Echo_22's eyes on me, watching me, and it only made me feel more anxious. I didn't know what was going on, or what Echo_22's role was in all of this, but I knew I had to get out of there. The woman's expression turned serious, and she leaned in closer. "Sir, I understand you may not want to talk, but our viewers are eager to know more about you. Can you at least tell us what you're doing out here tonight?" But I just shook my head, feeling a sense of frustration build inside me. Why was I being put on the spot like this? Why was I being forced to confront all of these strangers, with no warning, no preparation? As I sat there, frozen in silence, the cameras continued to roll, capturing every moment of my discomfort. I could feel the weight of the spotlight bearing down on me, making me feel like a specimen under a microscope. And then, just as suddenly as it had started, everything stopped. The cameras cut off, and the crowd began to disperse. The woman turned to me, a look of concern on her face. "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to put you on the spot like that." But I just stood up, brushing off my shorts, and walked away, leaving the chaos and confusion behind me. I knew I had to find Echo_22, to confront them about what had just happened. And I knew I had to do it now.