Sparrow stood backstage behind the curtain and listened to the roar of the crowd. Thousands of voices vibrated through the floors and this terrified her. Her breathing became shallow and her knees started shaking as if the concrete floor were about to cave in under her feet. She felt her armpits starting to sweat and itch a little, just as bile rose up from the pit of her stomach.

It’s a good thing she didn’t eat earlier, otherwise she would be throwing up in front of the thousands of fans waiting to hear from her.

It’s just nerves, she told herself. Breathe. Count. Breathe.

She counted down slowly from ten, drawing a deep breath on each count. She couldn’t allow these feelings to swallow her. She needed to channel her inner diva and step out there. Thousands of fans expected her to. Her manager expected her to.

*****

“That was brilliant!” Thomas, her best friend and manager, said after the performance. “I think that was the best performance I’ve ever heard!”

Sparrow didn’t answer; she couldn’t answer. She was breathless and pumped with adrenalin. Everything was buzzing around her with a hum of excitement as people swarmed around her. She felt faint. She felt queasy.

“I think I’m gonna puke.”

She ran past the crowd to the bathroom. There was a long line of people waiting to get in. She held her hand over her mouth as she felt the puke coming up.

“Move! Move! She’s gonna blow!” Thomas was right by her side, shoving people out of the way as they made their way to the front of the line. Luckily, a cubicle opened as someone walked out. Sparrow gunned for it, ignoring the grunts and shouts behind her. Thomas would take care of it.

She came out and washed her face in the sink, scooping some cold water onto her neck. Once outside, she and Thomas made their way to the green room where the other artists were.

“Thank goodness that was after the performance,” Thomas said.

This was the biggest stage on which Sparrow had ever performed and this was the biggest crowd she’d ever performed for. And she knew she had killed it. Thomas had told her so and Thomas never lied.

Everyone was singing her praises in the green room. She was among the newcomers featured at this year’s Ebubeleni Music Festival. The three-day event featured famous artists as well as local upcoming artists. It was every newcomer’s dream and Sparrow had been the act before the main artist came on.

This was a huge honour and a big break for her. Artists from Port Elizabeth hardly ever made it big. Most of them had to relocate to Joburg or Durban to get any big breaks. Sparrow was so thrilled her performance went off without a hitch, that she didn’t really think much about what would happen next.

And then the most unexpected thing happened.

A familiar voice spoke behind her. “Damn girl. How am I supposed to follow after that performance?”

Sparrow turned around to find her idol smiling at her. Amanda Black was talking to her; she couldn’t believe it! She was speechless, shocked.

“Oh, no, the crowd was still vibing from all the other performers,” she managed to say. “You’re the one they came here to hear.”

“She’s modest,” Amanda Black said to her entourage, “I like her. What’s your name?”

“Morgan … I mean, Sparrow. My stage name is Sparrow.”

“Well, your voice is as beautiful as a sparrow’s. Great performance.” Amanda gave her a small smile and walked away.

“Oh. My. God! Oh. My. God! Amanda spoke to you!” Thomas was holding her by the shoulders, shaking her. “Why didn’t you ask for a selfie?”

Sparrow shook her head, still stunned. “I don’t know. It all happened too fast!”

“That’s OK, at least now she knows your name.”

“She knows my name! Amanda Black knows my name!” Sparrow shouted.

“Next time, make sure you shoot your shot Little Sparrow,” Thomas grinned.

Thomas was right, Sparrow thought as they left the green room. The world was moving too fast and opportunities like these were rare. Sparrow knew if she wanted to make it to the big time, she needed to act like a star and not just a star-struck fan. Next time, she would shoot her shot!

***

Tell us: If you met your idol, would you ask them for a selfie?