o had played the palace maid beside me. She waved with

rced myself forward, each step heavier than the last. There was n

as bad as I feared. That I wouldn't end

ney, cut through the air the very moment I sat

en stools, their placement reflecting the weight of their roles. Th

e surname, she always pretended not to know me in public, and people believed her and h

announced suddenly. Her words paused, hanging in the air just lon

Her voice rang with deliberate sweetness, a venom masked as concern. "If you'd ask me, I suggest you find a man to get you pregnant so you can tie him down with the child and mak

twenty-six herself. If her cruel analogy applied to me, then what made her think she was immune to the same fate? But

r glass of wine before gulping it down. She sat perched on a stool; her role must have carried more weigh

snickered. "I haven't seen any real talent whenever she acts. No doubt her s

ed forcing himself on me yesterday, promising me a better role than the palace maid

e years until she clocks thirty. As I see it, no man will be willing to marry a liability. Gilda, take Vera's advice.

and already an international act. Heavens, even if I were under a curse, geezzz, I pray it never gets to the

ven the girl seated beside me joined in, as t

yself with the pretense of going to the restroom. I wasn't pressed, I just desperately needed the pr

thought churned in my hea

troom when a strong hand

e hand if I had to. But when I turned and saw my manager, relief washed ove

gging me along the hallway that

d from me, he had fought to at least secure me a spot as an extra. It wasn't much, but it wa

orage Room. He pulled a key fr

? The hallway is already quiet enough. No one has passed since we walked down

sighed and ran a hand through

talented, yes, I'll give you tha

ed to pull my wrist free from his grip, but he only

audition tomorrow and land that lead role, my head will roll. I have a family to feed, Gilda. I can't risk

s what he was saying, he s