moment of joy

Maria had waited for this moment all her life. This was it; all she had ever wanted, all she had ever wished for, all she had worked for years. They say opportunity knocks at every door it is only a matter of recognizing it when it’s your turn. She had seized her chance and now it was time to relish the fruit. She heard her name being announced and waited for a brief moment. Heads of over a thousand esteemed guests turned in her direction; all eyes set on her. She straightened her dress and rose ever so gracefully. The modest smile on her face and the calm expression of satisfaction defied the outburst of her pounding heart. The entire auditorium rose to its feet, their applause roaring louder than the music being played by the orchestra. She walked towards the stage, smiling at her audience as she crossed each tier of the hall; her gait patient and her gestures composed.

As Maria reached the first step of the stage she turned abruptly and stared at her audience in utter disbelief, her expression blank and her eyes furious. How could they do this to her? How could they stop already? This was her day, her moment; she had every right to rejoice it all the way. She parted her lips and uttered words fiercely. The crowd froze, no one could hear her. She repeated herself again and again; louder and louder, everyone staring at her in disbelief.

Maria raised her hands in midair clapping them together. The audience started clapping with her. Maria stared at her hands as if they were alien objects and clapped harder. The organizers standing at the footsteps of the stage reached towards Maria asking her if she was ok. She refused to look at them and kept on clapping her hands. The guests raised their hands above their heads and clapped faster as she clapped more and more aggressively. A man reached towards her with a glass of water. She took the glass tapping her nails against it. He stared at her confused as she smashed the glass on the ground. It broke into pieces but Maria did not care. She could not hear it break, she could not hear herself shouting, she could not hear them clapping. She looked around herself, shocked and pale. She was screaming out her lungs now, crying away like a little girl. She could not hear herself; she could not hear a thing, not the murmurs of the crowd or the inquiries of the men gathered around her.