Chapter 2: The Road to Denver

Chapter 2: The Road to Denver

Intro:

The road to Denver wasn’t smooth. Between nerves, doubts, and barely enough gas money, Ethan had to find the courage to keep his song alive.

Story:

The competition was three weeks away. Ethan practiced every day—polishing lyrics, fixing rhythms, working on his confidence. He even sang in front of his little sister to get over his stage fright.

His mom worked extra shifts to cover travel costs. The night before the trip, George handed Ethan a folded paper. “It’s not much,” he said. Inside was a twenty-dollar bill. “It’s all I’ve got right now. Use it to chase that dream.”

The next morning, they set out before sunrise. Denver was three hours away, and Laura’s old station wagon rattled the whole way. Ethan kept his guitar on his lap, fingers tracing the strings like prayer beads.

The competition venue was unlike anything he’d seen—high ceilings, a real stage, bright lights, and hundreds of strangers. The other contestants wore stylish outfits and tuned expensive instruments. Ethan wore a flannel shirt and jeans, his guitar still bearing scratches from Pine Hollow.

Backstage, he rehearsed quietly. A woman with a clipboard approached and said, “You’re up next.”

Ethan’s heart pounded. His hands were cold. He took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage.

The lights blinded him. The crowd blurred. He sat on the stool and strummed the first chord. His voice cracked—but only for a moment. He closed his eyes and sang his song, “Hollow Roads,” a piece about leaving home but never forgetting it.

The hall fell silent as his voice carried through the air—raw, gentle, powerful.

When he finished, there was a moment of stillness. Then, thunderous applause.

The judges conferred. Later, they announced the results. “First place goes to… Ethan Cole from Pine Hollow!”

His name echoed through the hall. He looked toward the crowd and saw his mom crying, hands over her heart.

One of the judges, a Nashville producer, walked up to him afterward. “Son, ever thought about recording music?”

Ethan grinned. “I never thought I’d even leave Pine Hollow.”

Outro:

That night, Ethan looked out at the Denver skyline. “I sang through the fear,” he thought. “Maybe now, the world is ready to listen.