Being seen for who I am is what makes my heart stutter.
I wish I had my worry stone so I could at least have something to do with my hands, but of course, it’s in my jacket. This costume didn’t exactly come equipped with pockets.
The bottom of my skin-tight bodysuit rides just to the top of my thighs, leaving a nice teaser of creamy pale skin between the suit and my thigh-high white boots. Everything shimmers, of course, which matches the masquerade-style mask that hides the top half of my face, leaving only the deep purple of my colored contacts showing through. Bright red lipstick coats my pouty lips; that, combined with my purple eyes, is the signature look of my Solace persona.
Adjusting the bottom of my bodysuit, I grab the microphone from my stage manager, Michel, catching a whiff of his cologne. In return, he gives me a wink and a quick swat on my backside.
Normally, someone touching me would leave them staring at the business end of a temper tantrum. Luckily for both of us, my tight ass isn’t what pitches his tent. I’d have to have a bunch more plumbing in my front region, if ya know what I mean.
The crowd cheers as soon as my boots hit the same stage that Billy Joel has performed on countless times. With as many shows as I’ve performed, I’ll never get over the idea that I step onto the same walkways as the big stars.
Even if Solaceisone.
“Hello, New York!” I shout into the mic, dragging out the words as I extend my free hand into the air. The sound is almost deafening with a sold-out show in Madison Square Garden. I feel my cheeks brush my mask as my smile widens. Even though I find it hard to believe sometimes, I’m beyond proud of myself as my eyes scan the thousands of faces surrounding me. Those who want to hear me sing.
Good thing they like me. Could you imagine stepping out onto this stage in front of twenty thousand people who hate you?
Or worse. Twenty thousand zombies?
I’m still not convinced they won’t take over the world someday.
“SOLACE. SOLACE. SOLACE.”
The crowd is chanting my alias, which is in giant glittery letters behind me on stage. I wonder what it would feel like to hear them yell my truename.
“VIOLET. VIOLET. VIOLET.”
But that’s just a pipe dream. Theywould find me if I shared my real name.
Being a singer is all I’ve wanted since I was a child, and I’ll be damned if I let anyone take that away from me. Hiding my identity is the only way to continue chasing my dreams. Thankfully, I have a damn good team keeping it an ironclad secret.
When I was growing up, my mom worked two jobs just to get me to and from singing lessons. Even though she doesn’t know I am following through on that dream as an adult, I refuse to throw it all away.
So, here I stand, performing as the face that everyone wants to see. The face of Solace.
The music picks up, and I start the intro of my number one hit,Shadow in the Spotlight.
The stage lights make me shine bright as the words pour from my bright red lips and into the surrounding air, enhanced by the speakers and the echoing crowd.
One of the more powerful lines from the song is sung back to me by the fans who are now on their feet, shining their phone flashlights.
“I’m shining for the world, but nobody sees the dark behind my glow.”
The crowd erupts as the song concludes, and I slide into the next song on the set list. The sound of the crowd floods my veins throughout the show, the same energy reverberating toward the stage as though I’m not Solace, but Elvis friggin’ Presley.
How is it that my words have affected this many people?
Imposter syndrome, perhaps?
As I’m belting out one of the highest notes in my entire discography, I hear shuffling to my left and feel arms being wrapped around me as I’m dragged off stage.
“Solace,” someone yells, but I don’t hear anything else as my hands hold my mask in place. “We’re getting you out of here!”
“Wha—”
It’s Michel. He’s dragging me off stage and through the hall toward my dressing room, where we run into the journalist I promised I’d give an interview to last week. I’ve been really bad at remembering all the reporters I've made plans with lately.
I don’t ask Michel any questions. I know what this means.
