The Silence After Spotlight

There was a time I believed the noise was love.

The cheers. The flashbulbs.

The subtle flex of fame curling around my name like gold.

It felt warm then

a sun I could stand under without question.

But all suns set, and this one disappeared without telling me why.

I watched the stages go dark.

The interviews stopped.

The world moved on, and I...

I was still dressed for the show.

Makeup smudged. Smile stiff.

Waiting for the encore that never came.

At first, I mistook the quiet for punishment.

But slowly, I learned:

The silence wasn't empty.

It was honest.

It told me who I was when no one was looking.

It reminded me that my worth never came from the clapping

but from the courage to stand without it.

So now I walk without a script.

I speak without a mic.

And in that silence, I write.

Not for the stage. Not for the spotlight.

But for the part of me that never needed either.

If this piece moved you, even in a small way feel free to leave a heart, a comment, a thought, or simply return for more. I share what I feel, and if it speaks to you, that’s all the spotlight I need.