The stage lights cast a soft glow as a small girl stepped forward, her tiny frame nearly swallowed by the grandness of the moment. She clutched the microphone with steady hands, her bright eyes scanning the judges who sat before her, waiting.
Simon leaned forward, glancing at his notes. “What will you be singing today?”
The girl smiled. “I Will Always Love You.”
A few murmurs rippled through the audience. The judges exchanged knowing looks—Whitney Houston? That was a bold choice. Almost impossible. Simon smirked, clearly expecting a disaster.
Then, the music began.
The moment she sang the first note, everything changed. A rich, soaring voice filled the theater, effortless and powerful. The smirks disappeared. The murmurs turned into stunned silence.
Simon’s eyebrows shot up. The other judges stared, jaws slightly open. The audience, which had been casually waiting for another forgettable audition, now sat on the edge of their seats.
By the time she reached the chorus, her voice swelled, flawless and full of emotion. Gasps rang out. People turned to each other in disbelief. The sheer power coming from such a small girl was unreal.
Then it happened—one by one, the judges stood. A standing ovation before the song was even finished. The crowd erupted, cheers mixing with the final notes as she held the last word with breathtaking control.
As the sound faded, the entire room exploded.
Simon, shaking his head in disbelief, clapped slowly. “I was not expecting that,” he admitted, the rarest flicker of genuine surprise on his face.
The girl simply smiled. She had known all along.