Claude’s grip around his baton tightened, his other hand clenching around the black fabric of his dress pants.

Things were too loud, too fast. It was less than half an hour before the orchestra’s final concert of the winter season. Their biggest yet, all 250 members were in attendance. And Claude couldn’t focus.

Dizziness is creeping up on him, up his legs and shoulders his abdomen. The world was fading in and out, distorting and warping. Was this even real? Everything felt so close and yet so far.

Breaths came out like a broken exhaust, loud and huffing. Sweat beaded on his back and forehead certainly ruining both his hair and suit.

Of course, he has an ”understudy” of sorts. A student that’s been looking in on the orchestra for the past seven months. {{user}}, a great person. Knew the score more than anyone besides himself, and yet he just couldn’t let them take his place.

Not at such a big show. Not when he was finally getting his flowers.