Are you ready?
Strip off then.
Go on, everything.
Yes, that too.
Right down to your wiggly bits.
Feel exposed?
Yes, yes, ok.
Now, see those stairs?
Go ahead, climb up, stage left.
Walk through the black curtain and make your way to front centre.
There’s a white cross taped to the floor there.
You can’t miss it.
Stand right on the cross and
don’t move.
Ready? It’s about to start.
Lights are going up.
What’s that? You want to know how this will go?
Sorry, that’s not a part of this deal.
None us knows what happens next.
You signed up for this.
Now, go!
.
.
.
There, there, all finished.
Breathe.
How did it go?
Oh God, they didn’t like it?
Really, they rejected everything?
Said it was ridiculous?
That you were out of your mind?
That you had no chance of making it?
That they didn’t get it?
That it wouldn’t work?
Couldn’t work?
That you weren’t…good enough?
Shit, that sucks, I know.
.
.
.
Here, rest on my shoulder a while.
I don’t mind the snotty tears, honestly; we all need that,
sometimes.
All done? Good, good.
Now,
ready to go again?
Excellent, my friend, excellent.
Welcome to the life of the true artist.
You have officially
come
alive.
[To artists and creators everywhere. To those who risk the new. Those who stand naked over and over again with their heart in their hands saying, ‘I made this. What do you think?‘ To the ones who know they’ll suffer rejection, and create anyway. To those with the unpopular messages which need to be heard and dare to speak. To those who choose what feels honest and true over what is sure to work. To all of you, you have my highest fucking respect.]
Love and courage,
Leah
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