blinking in the starlight, suddenly i see

“Gosh Felix would it pain you too much to not have the empathetic capabilities of a cactus? And it wouldn’t be so difficult if you actually helped me.” Annette retorted, not missing the opportunity to mock Felix’s ever dull tone.

“I am helping you, to the best I can anyway. It’s not like I can trade my voice box with yours and actually start the song for you.”

Annette rubbed her forehead in frustration. She really couldn’t blame Felix for the lack of progress in dissuading her nervous spiraling, especially when he’s been turning up to their makeshift auditorium every afternoon with thick stacks of analysis papers detailing stage fright management, vocal control tips, and emotion regulation. To both of their dismay, this may be the first time the senior associate is unable to put pieces into place with hard data and pinpoint testimonials.

Annette and Felix work through a New Year’s performance rehearsal and all but say the very three words.