Who Are You?

My heart is pounding so hard against my chest, I feel like an old boombox speaker ready to blow out because of too much bass. Who said I could do this? Heck, who said I should do this? I should have listened to my mother and kept my art-buying business; it was thriving. It was easy and the high-paying clientele was a definite bonus… Monroe broke my train of thought when she gripped both of my shoulders, hugged me, then asked “Are you ready?” With a blank stare and my mouth agape, I can’t speak. It's as if I had just forgotten all the words in the world. She shook me again, this time smiling as she said, “Hello? Sophia, you have to be ready because it’s almost time to walk out there and meet your crowd.” I turn to my right and see the huge, golden double doors peering back at me. Mocking me with their elegantly hand-carved panels, whispering, You’re not good enough to come through these doors. My eyebrows furrowed, I turned back to my best friend in panic and exclaimed, “I can’t do this! What was I thinking? How many people are out there? Oh my goodness, is my mother here? Oh, I can wait to hear what Gloria has to say tonight. Nothing good, I bet. Is it hot in here? I’m burning up!” Now, I'm pacing back and forth and feeling like I’m about to regurgitate all of the pork roast and potatoes I shoved in my mouth on the drive here. Monroe is babbling something trying to calm me down, but I’ve already tuned her out. Suddenly, I feel something smooth and warm against my left hand. I felt like I was nestled into my couch, wrapped up in my favorite rose-colored, fuzzy blanket on a cold, snowy night. My heartbeat began to soften as I looked down my arm. Who’s hand is this? My brain finally connected the dots when I looked up and saw it was a man. A tall, caramel-complected, well-groomed, handsome man. Studying his peridot-green eyes, I felt a sense of calm I’ve never known before. As if all of my worries floated away in the skies. I don’t know how, but this man made me feel at ease, instantly, and I don't even know his name...