#Chapter 139: Come Together

Abby The stage lights are blinding, but I try to focus on the announcer standing across from me. His voice reverberates through the microphone as he begins his script. “Ladies and Gentlemen… Welcome to the annual Alpha party cooking competition! I’m your host, Heinrich Williams, and today I’m proud to announce…” One by one, the contestants and judges are introduced. Their faces are projected onto giant screens that hang above us, and with each announcement, the audience cheers and applauds excitedly. The announcer then asks each person a couple of questions, giving them time to promote themselves before the show begins. As I’m waiting for my turn, though, all I can feel is crippling, soul-crushing fear. How do I look? How will the audience respond? What will I say when it’s my turn to talk? I wasn’t expecting all of this, and all I can think is that maybe if I had showed up on time this morning, maybe I wouldn’t be feeling so unprepared. But all the while, Karl stan