The Understudy's Big Night

Mia stood in the wings and watched the empty stage. In one hour, the theater would be full. In one hour, the lights would come up. And tonight, for the first time, Mia might be the one standing in them.

She was the understudy. For three months she had come to every rehearsal. She had learned every line of the lead part, Princess Elara. But she had never said those lines on a real stage. The understudy did not perform. The understudy waited, and watched, and helped the others. That was the job.

The lead actress was Daniela. Daniela was talented and confident, and she never got sick, and she never missed a show. Everyone said she was a star. So Mia had learned all the lines, but deep down, she had stopped believing she would ever use them.