This is it! This is the moment I’ve been waiting for! All my life I’ve dreamed of playing the lead role in a West End show and now I have that chance! I’ve been singing all day, making sure I know the songs, the dances, my lines. And the curtain goes up in 15 minutes!

I’m giddy with excitement. My costume, hair and make up have all been done and now I wait. I’m not on till a couple of songs in, I have plenty of time. Standing in front of the full length mirror I grin. My life’s goal. My one ambition, so close.

As I start to warm up, I hear my voice getting raspier and raspier. Harsher and harsher. In despair I try and sing my signature song and my voice fails on me. In the mirror, I can see the director standing by the door. He sighs and walks off calling. “Sandy! You’re playing the lead tonight!”

As tears start to slowly stream down my face, Sandy comes in smirking. “I’ll need my costume” she says spitefully. I walk to my dressing room and strip it off, and with it go my dreams.

As Sandy performs, I sob.