The Traveller

Prologue: The Author

"Here's Florence Sharp!" a booming voice escaped from the tall, blonde woman. She couldn't contain her excitement anymore, a childish grin breaking her professional features. Applause erupted throughout the auditorium, an army of fans screaming with excitement.

That's me, I suppose, Florence pondered with a deep sigh, tapping the remaining ashes of her cigarette into a bucket offstage. The last few embers trickled onto the floor, followed swiftly by the toe of a navy blue stiletto, which shakingly stamped them out.

"You're going to be terrific!" a deep voice bellowed from behind Florence, as a pair of heavy hands firmly planted themselves on her shoulders. "Thanks, Jeff", she replied with an icy tone. I still haven't forgotten about last night.

Flo turned once more to a mirror hanging behind the stage curtain. Running her short, dark fingers through her afro, a sigh of disappointment left her body. "I look homeless" she admitted. Homeless and fat. Her fingers anxiously contorted her face, pushing her cheeks together as her wrinkled skin covered her eyes. Grimacing as she poked the purple bags above her cheeks, she felt defeated.

I don't want to be here. She turned back to the tall man in the wings. Removing his dark shades, she saw darker bags under his eyes, the optimistic demeanour now drained from his face, as a sheepish expression greeted her. Jesus, I should shut up, you look even worse. Flo's stilettos dashed back towards him, as she buried her face in his navy blue suit. "Wish me luck?" her Texan accent purred, her confidence returning.

Jeff embraced her head in his palms once more, planting a soft kiss on her forehead. "You don't need it," his warm voice returned, "You've been doing these tours for years. Now go be spectacular.". She could feel a familiar, almost paternal smile engulf her, yet she turned away from him, averting her gaze from him. With one last deep breath, Flo stood up tall, transformed into the person the audience was expecting, as she found her snarling confidence once more. Plastering a smile on her face, Miss Sharp strutted onstage. She had arrived.