Clara took a deep, centering breath as she stood in the shadows of the darkened wings, awaiting her cue. She tuned out the loud murmur of the sold-out crowd filing into their seats beyond the heavy curtain. Backstage bustled with dancers making last-minute adjustments to costumes and props, everyone buzzing with opening night nerves and excitement.
But Clara had escaped to the solitary wings, needing a moment to ground herself and slow her racing heart. Ever since the humiliating tomato incident that had ended her first starring role so disastrously months ago, she still felt uneasy about performing bare on stage again, despite her best efforts not to let the hateful few deter her.
Yet tonight felt different. This was her chance to truly communicate the beauty and artistry of the human form unbound – to open closed minds, touch jaded hearts, empower women to embrace their bodies. She simply needed to let her genuine passion shine through.
The stage manager’s voice crackled through the headset. "Places everyone! Show starts in one minute."
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