Chapter 19: The Talent Show

Chapter 19: The Talent Show

The night of the talent show arrived, and Liam's hands were clammy as he stood backstage. Maya found him moments before he was set to go on.

"You got this," she whispered, squeezing his hand. "I'm right here."

Liam swallowed hard and stepped onto the stage. The spotlight blinded him for a moment, but then he found her in the crowd—Maya, smiling at him, full of belief.

He started playing. At first, his voice was shaky, but as he lost himself in the music, confidence bloomed. The crowd swayed, immersed in the raw emotion of his song. When he finished, the auditorium was silent for a moment—then erupted into applause.

Maya was on her feet, cheering the loudest of all.

He had done it.

After the show, students he barely knew approached him, congratulating him. Even the school newspaper wanted to do an interview. For the first time, Liam felt seen—not just as the quiet kid, but as someone people respected.

Maya threw her arms around him. "I told you! You were amazing!"

Liam laughed, overwhelmed and elated. "I don't think I've ever felt like this before."

Maya pulled back, smiling. "Get used to it."

That night, as they sat together on the school bleachers under the stars, Maya exhaled deeply. "Tonight was perfect."

Liam turned to her. "And it's only the beginning."

He reached for her hand, and for the first time, there were no doubts, no fears—only the certainty that they were exactly where they were meant to be.