Dreams Come True

I'm an actress on stage finishing the final scene. I truly was a princess tonight. I’m dressed wearing a long gown and sparkling crown. The tears are still fresh as the depth of my emotions intensified to its highest degree. I’ve never felt so drawn to a character before. Her pains and passions became my own. Even now a part of her still lives on inside me. My heart won’t let go of the kind and gentle prince who professed his undying love, asking for my hand. I had to refuse. I had to lie. I had to tell him something that would tear apart his soul. I had to make him believe we could never be together. I had to make sure he would turn away never look back.

I told him I loved another. It broke me to see him in such pain because I loved him so much. A love he never knew existed. A love I had to keep secret once I learned of the wretched disease coursing through my body. There was no known cure and the only thing I could count on now was death. I didn’t want to put him through that kind of torture. He didn’t deserve it. The pain he felt now would pale in comparison to the pain of watching someone you love die.

When I first told him my heart belonged to another he didn’t believe me but I was convincing, even cruel at times. I couldn’t let there be any doubt in his mind that I felt anything but disgust for him. Defeated, he had no choice but to accept my decision with a noble smile. His once vibrant eyes were now empty and dark. Tears escaped me knowing I was responsible for his suffering. Knowing I would never see him again. He walked away and I prayed he wouldn’t have second thoughts and look back. I didn’t want him to see the tears streaming down my face. Thank goodness he never did.

As the curtains closed, I counted on the roaring sound of applause to revive me, perhaps even a standing ovation. Instead, my only welcome turned out to be the piercing sounds of silence. Peering through closed curtains, I was greeting by an empty auditorium. The ghosts in my head occupied the front row of seats. Their sadistic laughter grew louder and louder until I could take it no longer. Covering my ears and closing my eyes tight I screamed for them to stop. Silence returned and the ghosts were gone. The red carpet turned black. The theater looked darker and smaller than I remembered. A melancholy sentiment fell over the playhouse like thickening fog, which blended in perfect unanimity with my growing feelings of desolation.

A single spotlight fell on me. Its bright and glaring rays were almost blinding. I tried to wish it away. The darkness surrounding me became more and more seductive. I found myself wanting to submit to this alluring blackness, which now surrounded me. Knowing not a single soul had the pleasure of seeing my greatest performance was devastating.

I glanced around the room in disbelief. Closing my eyes again I prayed for the room to magically fill up with hundreds upon hundreds of people. The sounds of genuine applause and cheer would bring life to this otherwise dead and sullen place. Roses would be tossed at my feet followed by a standing ovation. I’d cry tears of happiness rather than sorrow. But that didn’t happen. As I helplessly fell to the floor my only companion became the darkness. Familiar tears came to own me. Where did everybody go? When is it finally my chance to shine?

The sound of someone clapping startled me. I looked up and saw a man walking gracefully down the aisle. At first I thought he might be just a figment of my overactive imagination. Perhaps a mind trick of some sort. Uncertain of this reality I made sure to stay perfectly still as he approached the stage. With each step he took my heart raced with both excitement and fear. Then kneeling down, his hand reached out and gently stroked my cheek, wiping the tears away. Our eyes met for one magical moment and I felt a rush of love flourish inside me.

Softly he said, “Princess, you were wonderful tonight.”

“Thank you.” I could barely get the words out. Then looking away I uttered, “But I am far from a princess in any story book.”

Cradling my tear stained face his eyes searched mine. “You are a princess to me.”

At that moment I fell in love with him, this stranger by my side. I don’t know where he came from and I honestly didn’t care. He’s proof that I am not alone. I did have an audience after all. He was my audience. If this is just a dream please don’t wake me. I’d rather stay here because when I look into his eyes there’s no denying it. These are the eyes I could get lost in for all of my life.