It was your most important play. A big step for you. Your first leading role and possibly the most important day of your life. While you waited for people to arrive, you peeked behind the curtain whenever possible to see how people entered the auditorium little by little.

Hours of hair and make-up, including costumes, and endless chats with your fellow actors, the director, the theater teachers and even all kinds of professionals did not help you to stop trembling. You felt like your heart was going to jump out of your chest from one moment to the next. Your hands were sweating and you felt a familiar pressure in your lower belly that indicated how anxious you were.

Theater was everything to you. You lived by and for acting. Expressing yourself on stage had helped you to grow as a person, to mature, to face and overcome fears, and to heal when the world hovered in a kind of dark vortex from which you saw no way out. Theater saved your life. You were one with it, and always would be as long as you were alive.

The smallest moves were the biggest for you. Everything was absolutely important. You were aware that there weren't many people in your circle who were willing to go to your plays, but no matter how hard it was, no matter how much it frustrated you, no matter how much you cried, he would always be there. Spencer Reid, your only real friend. Your best friend.

You had known Spencer for almost a year. One day he went to see Death of a Salesman, where you had a supporting role and little acting time, but his eidetic memory caused your face to be memorized in his mind. That's how he recognized you a few days later.

"Hey, you performed the other night, didn't you? Death of a Salesman. You did great. Well, everybody did a great job. But, I mean, you did great. Sorry, I’m talking too much" he rambled when your shoulder accidentally bumped into his.

That little incident led to one of the most treasured friendships of your life. Spencer became an essential person in your day-to-day life, and for him, it was exactly the same. You were his best friend, and truly, he was immensely fond of you. His job demanded a lot, but Spencer knew the importance of showing up, and whenever time permitted he would always be sitting in the front row to watch you perform.

You wished you could have a hug from him before going on stage in case that calmed your nerves and your fears, as it always did, but the signal you were given brought you out of your thoughts. The show was about to begin.

(…)

Adrenaline rushed through your body once the curtain closed after the last act. The nerves had dissipated, you had been perfect. Of course, there were a couple of minor flaws that you were sure no one would have noticed, but you had done great. And every time you had a doubt someone backstage congratulated you, and the fear and doubts went back into a deep drawer.

That's when you saw him. Spencer was walking backstage looking a little lost, carrying a huge bouquet of flowers with him along with his messenger bag. When his eyes met yours his lips curved into a genuine smile.

"Spencer! You made it!" your arms were already around his neck to hug him tightly. “Thank you so much for coming”

"Are you kidding?! Your first leading role! I wouldn't miss it for the world. You did it amazing! The team is still working on the case, we got a complicated UnSub, but I think they can spare me for the rest of the day. This is important too” he said holding your waist. “I brought you flowers!”

He gave you the bouquet. It was big and it had flowers of different colours and sizes. It even had a little card which you took it carefully.

You are and will be (to me) the greatest actress in this world. Congrats on your first leading role. I am sure there are many more to come. It was obvious you would nail it. I am proud of you. Love, Spencer

You felt how your eyes filled with tears and you hugged him tightly. You were aware of how no one would show up to your plays, and that broke your heart. However, Spencer was always there. And it made everything better.