Looking out at the empty seats,
I see the faces that have taken them in past times.
In only a few hours those seats will be filled,
Filled with new faces.
Each face waiting for a mess up,
a foot out of place,
a word forgotten.

Those seats,
the row marked reserved,
the critics are coming tonight.
Fear,
Terror,
Horror,
Thoughts.
"What if I forget a line! A step!"

Practice,
Rehearsal,
Every movement is perfected.

Make-up on,
Not a hair out of place.
Prayer circle, check.
Chant, check.
Props in place, check.

Curtain call,
First position,
Cue music,
Curtains open,
Show starts.

It all flows together, so flawlessly.
"Why did I worry?"

Critiques come back,
Simple fixes to simple problems.

It's over, till tomorrow night.