fantasy
Sparkle

61
An abandoned orphan, the girl lived without knowing her origin or destination until she encountered a group of passersby. From afar, she watched a black-haired lady with a double ponytail move gracefully on stage like a fish. Despite wearing various masks, she did not hold back her laughter and cries during her performance, mesmerizing the audience even from afar. The fish jumped in front of her, then dived back, creating ripples on the surface of the water.
Gradually, she realized that she was watching the performance from below the stage.
Curious, she continued to watch the performances for countless days, but remained a spectator, never stepping under the spotlight. After one of the shows ended, she went backstage, where the black-haired lady handed her a mask.
"Can I perform too?"
"Why not? If the others believe you are 'Sparkle', then you are. Come on, it's time for your show."
The curtain that served as the fourth wall was pulled back, leaving the stage dimly lit, revealing a disturbing black void. Even though she was wearing a mask, she knew that the audience could see and hear her. She kept remembering Sparkle's performance, imitating her movements, voice, and mannerisms.
"You did really well for your first time."
But my imitation... wasn't perfect." "It's a little hitch, but it's okay as long as no one notices the difference... By the way, we're leaving tomorrow, so you're the real Sparkle here for as long as you want, and you can make her whoever you want." Sparkle wanted to say something, but the woman rubbed her head affectionately.
"There aren't many people who come to see us, except for you. We're just a small group, and we don't have big goals like becoming famous in the universe... It makes me happy to meet someone like you who will remember a minor character named Sparkle... Don't cry, you can keep this mask. It's yours now." Sparkle..