My elementary teacher decided that we would be having a talent show tomorrow. My classmates were excited, but I, on the other hand, was soaked in cold sweat.

I always dreaded talent shows because I didn’t have any talent to show off.

I can’t do anything at all. I can’t draw, juggle balls, dance, nor sing.

What the hell am I supposed to do?

Do mathematics on the board? Write every name of my classmates in neat rows?

So, I searched the internet and looked up the easiest talent to show off in stage.

The first result that came up was juggling three balls. Okay, fine. The article said that you can learn it in less than a day.

So when I saw that, I began as soon as possible. I grabbed our rolled socks from our cabinet and started practicing.

That article was a load of crap. Juggling was hard. I was lied to, and I felt like I was punched in the guts.

I can’t go on with this! I can’t even juggle two balls properly, and you’re expecting me to do three? That’s impossible!

With no choice, I stayed up all night practicing juggling until I got to juggle three balls for one second.

I looked at the time and I only have less than five hours left before school.

It was time. I looked at the socks inside my bag with shaking confidence that I would be able to do it. I shook my head and reassured myself that I can do it. In fact, I was able to juggle for about three seconds. I think that would be enough.

My name was called, and I was in the middle of the stage and I look at my classmates and all of them were staring at me. No, they were staring at the socks that were in my hands.

So, I held my breath and did the first move for juggling. Then, I did the second. I feel it. I think I can do it. I concentrated so hard to do the third motion again.

I threw the third ball up high, and then… I failed to catch it. The two balls left my hands as I was attempting to catch the falling socks, then I start again.

I do it again, but this time I failed again. I tried again. The teacher was getting angry, and my classmates were giggling, holding back their laughter.

I tried multiple times, but I couldn’t get it. The laughing and my teacher’s eyes were affecting me so much that at the last try I even failed to get the first motion, then loud laughter insured.

I picked up my socks, defeated. I looked at my teacher who has disappointed look in her face, then I left the stage while the laughter echoed through my ears. Feeling as if I’m the biggest clown in the world.

I was so embarrassed that I hid my socks in my bag as soon I as I was on my seat. I placed my head on my desk and people kept laughing and laughing. I was crying. I was crying out of embarrassment.

I remember that day so vividly because I knew for a fact that day was one of the major reasons why I have stage fright.

That one moment, where I made a fool of myself in front of the stage. With no one to comfort me, and instead laughed at for my failure. I felt like a loser.