Chapter 5- Breaking free

The next few days were tense. My mother avoided me, her silence a constant reminder of the rift that had opened between us. But I couldn't go back. I couldn't pretend that everything was okay just to appease her.

I spent every spare moment practicing my singing, even if it was only for myself. I knew what I had to do next: I had to stand up for my dream.

The opportunity came sooner than I expected. The school was hosting a talent show, and despite my nerves, I signed up. I had no idea how my performance would be received, but for the first time in ages, I didn't care.

The night of the talent show, I stood backstage, heart racing. I could hear the laughter and chatter of students in the auditorium, but none of it mattered. What mattered was what I was about to do.

When my name was called, I stepped out into the spotlight, holding the microphone with trembling hands. The bright lights blurred my vision, but I could hear the faint murmur of the crowd. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and began to sing.

As the first notes filled the room, everything else faded. The doubts, the fears, the pressure to be someone I wasn't—all of it vanished.

I sang with everything I had. For me. For Echo. For the girl who had been too afraid to be seen.

When I finished, there was silence. A long, drawn-out moment of nothing. Then, the applause began.