II

The next scene was to begin. Curtains drew. He came to the backstage and jolted her. She said they'll continue from where they had left off. He wondered if she cared at all, confrontation wasn't seeming to help. She embraced him, and reminded him of all their great past performances, how the audience had always loved the chemistry they shared. But the doubt had settled now, he could trust her no longer. He couldn't believe himself. Couldn't believe that he couldn't trust her enough to just respond appropriately. They prepared to get on stage again. This time she made a promise to deliver a most gripping performance. But he didn't know where the play was headed. He depended on her cues, helplessly now.

Curtains opened. The audience gasped. She looked mesmerizing, bathed in that fake moonlight. On a pedestal, making her untouchable to us mortals. He entered the scene and demanded her attention. She responded, by just looking away. He walked to where she seemed to be looking, and she told him not to block her view of the garden below. He said he was the gardener. Despite the beauty of those flowers, which stood there, trying their best at pretending to be real and fragrant, she told the audience of their truth. They are plastic, she exclaimed.

The stage darkened. Lights focused on just the two of them. He deemed confrontation inevitable now. But he chose silence over confrontation. He was tired of pleading, tired of saying her lines and doing her part, and his own alongside. It was his turn to be silent now. Now that she was listening.

She looked blankly at the audience. It was not until the murmur grew loud that she spoke. She asked him what it was he wanted. The backdrop couldnot please him, neither couldn't her best costume. This was a play done and redone!, what was making it so difficult for him?. Why was he standing stunned?

Caught off guard, he snapped it was the mere repetition. He was enjoying this moment, her asking him what she wanted. Her wnating to please him, to induce him to say something agreeable.She asked him if he expected her to read his mind. Tears glistening in his eyes, he left, he couldn't ask her for everything.