Page 53 of Rush

I slide into the softer melody, my voice low and warm as I pour out the ache of those nights, the quiet longing. As I sing, the sea of lights sways like fireflies on a summer’s night.

When I finish, breathless, I shake my head.

Incredible.

Their adoration radiates through me, warm and overwhelming. I’ve never felt anything like it.

If I could hold on to this—this energy, this connection—it would be enough to carry me through every heartbreak, every storm.

For the first time, I’m completely myself. Unafraid. Seen.

“You guys really know how to make a girl feel special,” I tease.

I adjust my guitar.

“Alright, this next one…you probably screamed it in your car, cried to it.”

A wave ofyesssandSparks!rises before I even say it.

I smile, heart tight in the best way.

“I wanted to do it a little different tonight. Stripped back. Because this song…this one means a lot. It’s about searching for that person who lights up your life and realizing maybe, what you were searching for, was in you all along.”

The crowd goes quiet, waiting.

I take a breath and strum the first soft notes of“Sparks.”

I sing it quieter this time, raw, vulnerable,

“Find the spark inside you. Feel it in your bones. Know that in the darkness. You are not alone.”

By the end, I step back and let them carry the last chorus. My own lyrics echo back to me, the sound swelling until my throat tightens. For a moment, I stand there, letting it wash over me. Faces blur in the front row—some swaying together, one woman with mascara streaking down her cheeks. Seeing how my words have touched them, how they’ve becomeoursnow, chokes me up. My eyes sting, glistening.

When the song finishes, the applause is deafening, and I let out a shaky laugh.

“You’ve been magical on this date,” I tease, breathless. “But what do you say we kick things up a notch?”

The crowd cheers wildly. As I slip my guitar off, the stagehand already at my side to collect it.

“Yeah, take it off!” someone yells, and I giggle, blowing a kiss toward the direction of the voice.

“Now listen, life’s short, right? So this next song is about making memories. Taking the photo. Kissing the boy, or girl.” I giggle, and theyeat it up.

“This isCherish.”

The beat kicks in, backup dancers fill the stage, the energy lifting as I sing about savoring every moment, dancing along to the choreographed steps, praying to God, I don’t trip and fallon my face. Seeing the arena come alive and everyone jumps to their feet to dance along.

I’m high on the feeling, it fills my heart with pride.This, is why I love doing it.

As the song ends, I pause to catch my breath, my cheeks aching from the smile widening on my face as they continue to cheer.

“Woah, things are getting hot and heavy,” I say, fanning myself playfully.

“Now Iknowy’all have had this on repeat. So, we hear you and maybe if you’re on yourbestbehavior, we’ll make it the next single. Make some noise New York!”

The crowd roars and howls in excitement

“Oh, come on guys, you can do better than that…Make some noiseNew York!!!”