For those quick moments, I held the microphone in my hands,I was shaking like a jellyfish and my palms were literally emitting sweat! I was really trying my best to keep it all together and look cool in front of the audience, who were all excited and ready for me, the lead singer, to start singing.
The music coordinator, who is a good friend of mine and the instigator of my present dilemma, signaled to me to start singing, if only he knew how furious I was at him for putting me in a tight spot.
We were all gathered for the wake-keep service of one of our beloved teachers Mr. Soyinka. His demise left us all in shock because he was so full of life until his final minutes. The heartbreaking news was shared with us at the assembly ground the following day after he kicked the buckets, and the school choir, which, fortunately, I was a member, was to perform a rendition to commemorate the day.
I had never led the choir in any of our events because I detest being in the spotlight however, an exemption is about to be made.
Interestingly, the songs we were to sing I was the only one who was able to master and memorize them among all the other choristers- Perhaps it was just a stroke of luck, and should made me feel excited at least, but to me, I felt quite the opposite.
Everybody jointly agreed I take the role, and my friend Tayo, who was our coordinator, and also my friend plea sealed it all up - He knew me better than anyone else, and He knew how much I dreaded being in the limelight.
Many gazes rested on me and I suddenly could feel the rapid racing of my heartbeats.
"Focus on me, Dee," Tayo's voice spontaneously still the storm in my head and my mind, and I was able to sing the first stanza of the song though, with a shaky voice, but as I continued, I regained momentum and sang comfortably.
After the performance, there was laudable applause in the air, which almost made me forget it was a funeral gathering, and many warm embraces from my co-choristers, telling me how well have done, followed.
Meanwhile, Tayo, my guy, grinned and said, "I told you, you could do it."
After experiencing the turn of events that day, I decided to start walking in the shoes of the "new me" I have found and intentionally welcome all life's goodness even if I had to allow the ray of limelight shine on me, which I still don't like.
As I reflect on all the big and small wins that have been able to achieve so far in the past decades, none of it was done with the "fear of the unknown," but this has never stopped me because "I still do it anyways."
The act of "doing" despite being afraid is what sometimes makes the difference and which also helps to begat a new and better version of yourself you never knew existed.
So, when next the fear of the unknown grips you, I'll advise you to expose yourself and do it still.
I'll like to invite 
to participate in writing about this #decemberinleo prompt, day 18. I feel they'll definitely have much to write about it.
©️ Medemausi
