Victor called my name at the open mic. My stomach went queasy. I walked to the stage anyway. My hands trembled. I read a story anyway. And then the audience shouted the Fearless Fridays Open Mic affirmation, which they did for all the performers. “Dawn Downey, you are fearless!”
They were mistaken.
I’m afraid of: ridicule, poison ivy, spiders, ticks, deer, police cars, water, tall men, cows, getting lost, yellow traffic lights, old houses, and new software.
I live with terror. I breathe anxiety. It’s the way I’m made.
When Victor calls my name at next month’s open mic, my hands might tremble again, because I’m not fearless.
Although … I’m not afraid of bees.
Related posts:
Hitchhiker
Cow Epiphany #2
Gangaji Said, "Stop"
They were mistaken.
I’m afraid of: ridicule, poison ivy, spiders, ticks, deer, police cars, water, tall men, cows, getting lost, yellow traffic lights, old houses, and new software.
I live with terror. I breathe anxiety. It’s the way I’m made.
When Victor calls my name at next month’s open mic, my hands might tremble again, because I’m not fearless.
Although … I’m not afraid of bees.
Related posts:
Hitchhiker
Cow Epiphany #2
Gangaji Said, "Stop"