Second act

The room buzzed with excitement the moment Alicia announced she was getting married.

My heart swelled with joy for her, and I barely had time to register the news before I found myself leaping from my chair to wrap her in a tight hug. 

"Are you serious? Oh my God, Alicia! I'm so happy for you!" I squealed, squeezing her as tightly as I could. She laughed, a little embarrassed by all the attention, but there was no mistaking the happiness in her eyes. 

"When?" I asked, pulling back to look at her properly. Her face was flushed with excitement, her smile brighter than I had ever seen it.

"In six months," she replied, her voice soft but brimming with excitement. "We're hoping you'll be able to make it. You're so busy with your work and everything…"

"I'll be there," I interrupted, already imagining myself at her wedding. There was no way I would miss it. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

The thought of Alicia getting married sent me spiraling into memories of the first time she had brought her boyfriend, now fiancé, home to meet us.

It had been chaotic, to say the least. He had been so nervous, and my sisters and I had made it no easier for him. We had bombarded him with questions, teasing him relentlessly while my mom fussed over him like he was already part of the family.

It had been a whirlwind, a mix of laughter and teasing, but by the end of the night, it was clear how much Alicia cared for him and how much he adored her. And now they were getting married.

Time really flew.

The chatter continued around the table, with everyone already making plans, talking about wedding dates, venues, dresses.

It was overwhelming but in the best possible way. I smiled, happy to let the conversation wash over me as I sank into the joy of the moment.

"Alright, Layla, you look exhausted," my mom's voice broke through the laughter, pulling me from my thoughts. "Go upstairs and get some rest. You've had a long day."

I didn't argue. The exhaustion I had been holding back since the ceremony was finally catching up to me. I stretched and nodded, giving Alicia one last hug before making my way upstairs.

The house was quiet as I climbed the stairs, the excitement from earlier still buzzing in the back of my mind. Once in my room, I headed straight to the bathroom, eager to wash away the stress of the day.

The hot water was soothing, and as I stood under the shower, I let my mind wander. The night had been a whirlwind awards, celebrations, Alicia's announcement it felt like everything was changing so quickly, but in a good way. 

After the shower, I slipped into my pajamas and padded over to my bed. I flopped onto the soft mattress, letting out a content sigh as I reached for my phone.

A message from Maya was waiting for me. 

Maya: Don't forget! You've got an audition in two days. It's a big one!

I smiled to myself as I typed out a quick reply.

Me: I won't forget! Thanks for reminding me.

Maya was always on top of things, making sure I didn't miss any important opportunities. I was grateful to have her by my side.

She had been my rock through all the craziness of the last couple of years, keeping me grounded and pushing me forward when I needed it most.

After sending the message, I opened Instagram, the familiar feed pulling me in as I started scrolling.

I knew I should probably post something from tonight. It had been a big night, and my followers would expect an update. But what could I post?

A picture from the ceremony? A candid shot with Maya? Or maybe something more personal, like a shot of the banner my family had made?

I stared at my phone for a few minutes, debating. It was always a bit of a balancing act being open enough with my audience to keep them engaged but not so open that I felt exposed.

After some deliberation, I decided on a picture from earlier, one of me at the ceremony, with a caption thanking everyone for their support even if I didn't win anything. 

I typed out the words carefully, reading them over a few times before hitting the post button. 

Post: "What a night! So grateful for all the love and support I've received. Thank you my fans. Here's to the future! ✨ #blessed #awardceremony #newbeginnings"

I watched as the likes started pouring in almost instantly. It always amazed me how quickly people responded to these things, but I knew better than to sit there and obsess over the numbers.

I set my phone down, purposefully placing it out of reach on the nightstand.

The room was dark now, the only light coming from the soft glow of the moon through the curtains. I lay back against the pillows, letting the weight of the day settle over me.

My body was tired, but my mind was racing. There was so much to look forward to Alicia's wedding, the upcoming audition, new projects on the horizon.

It was like life had taken on this fast-paced momentum, and I was just trying to keep up. But I didn't mind. It felt good to be moving forward, to have things to look forward to.

I closed my eyes, letting my thoughts drift as sleep slowly started to creep in.

This was just the beginning. The next chapter of my life was starting, and I was ready for it. Ready for whatever challenges came my way. 

With a final sigh, I rolled onto my side, pulling the covers up to my chin.

"Life is just beginning, right?" I whispered into the darkness, a small smile tugging at my lips as I let sleep finally take me.