"Center Stage"

Two days later, at 9pm, I was a whirlwind of nerves and adrenaline, pacing back and forth in my dressing room as I waited for my cue to take the stage. I could feel the energy of the crowd pulsing through the walls, their screams and chants growing louder by the minute. I bounced up and down, my eyes fixed on the door that led out to the stage, my heart racing with anticipation. I was ready to give it my all, to lose myself in the music and let the fans experience the raw emotion and energy that drove me to create. Jagger, my trusty pitbull, was nowhere to be found, having been left back at the hotel to get a good night's rest. I was on my own now, and I reveled in the feeling of being completely focused on the task at hand. My manager, Anthony, had given me the final pep talk, reminding me to breathe and have fun, but I was beyond reason. I was a tightly wound spring, coiled and ready to explode onto the stage. As I waited, the sounds of the crowd grew louder, a deafening roar that seemed to vibrate through every cell in my body. I could make out the chants, the fans screaming my name, "Hal-sey! Hal-sey!" over and over again. My heart swelled with pride and gratitude, and I felt a surge of excitement course through my veins. My guitarist, Aydian, poked his head into the dressing room, a reassuring smile on his face. "You ready to do this?" he asked, and I nodded, my eyes shining with a fierce determination. He gave me a thumbs-up and disappeared back into the wings, leaving me to take a few final deep breaths. I could feel the anticipation building, the moment of truth approaching. I thought back to all the times I'd played to smaller crowds, to the struggles and the doubts, and I knew that this was it – this was the moment I'd been working towards. The door to the stage opened, and a stagehand beckoned me out. I took one last look in the mirror, smoothing out my hair and adjusting my earpiece. I was ready. I was more than ready – I was Halsey, and I was about to take the stage by storm. With a final burst of adrenaline, I launched myself out into the spotlight, the crowd erupting into cheers as I strode confidently to the microphone. I took a deep breath, and let the music wash over me, carrying me away on a wave of sound and fury. I was home, and I was exactly where I was meant to be.