Melina

December 2027

"There once was a girl," said the narrator, standing in a narrow shaft of light, "who became invisible so that her words might not be."

The actress playing Emilia stepped forward. "There once was a girl. A beginning and an end."

They linked hands. "There was a story," the narrator finished, "whether or not others ever chose to listen."

Blackout.

The most extraordinary moment of any show was the hiccup of time between the last line and the applause. It took only a heartbeat for the audience to leave the world of the play to regain footing in this one—but, oh, those seconds were precious. It was the proof that they'd taken a journey; and that they'd come home changed.

sat in the front row at the Athena Playhouse, listening to the final sentence of the play she had written.

Opening night of By Any Other Name was a sellout, as would be the rest of its run. felt Andre jump to his feet to the left of her, and wolf whistle at the line of actors.

She had kept his revised ending, because Andre was right. Being named was important. It gave you credit for the work you put into the world, but it also held you responsible for your words and deeds when you hurt the people you loved, even inadvertently. In the Playbill, Andre was acknowledged for contributing additional material.

To her right, her father let go of Beth's hand to clap furiously. When he'd seen that in her Playbill bio had dedicated this show to her mother, he'd teared up. Now, he threw his arms around and hugged her so tight she couldn't breathe.

It didn't matter. If she died now, she would die happy.

The actors took another bow as Jasper emerged from stage right to another enthusiastic round of appreciation. He was carrying a huge bouquet of roses in one hand. "Tonight we have the honor of having the playwright in the house," he said, looking down at .

She shook her head, paralyzed. Last night, Jasper had pleaded with her to take a bow. He'd been relentless, really, creatively finding ways to make her agree. She had been half out of her mind at the feeling of his hands on her body; had she actually promised him she would take the stage?

Andre took the decision from her, spinning and giving her a push toward the steps that led to stage left. She surfed the wave of a standing ovation as she climbed the stairs and ducked behind the curtain. She could see Jasper grinning, and the beaming, exhausted smiles of the actors.

To 's great shock, there was an actress in the wings blocking her way.

The woman was in period costume, likely a member of the ensemble. hated the thought that one of the performers had not made it onstage quickly enough to take a bow. "You should be out there," she said, over the roar of clapping, and the actress turned.

found herself staring into a shrewd pair of silver eyes.

As silver as a metal that would never be as precious as gold.

As silver as the hopeful lining of a cloud.

As silver as her own.

felt a hard shove between her shoulder blades and stumbled onto the stage. She glanced over her shoulder, but the spot where the woman had been a moment before was utterly empty.

Jasper was waiting. So was the company that had brought her words to life; and all the future ideas she had yet to voice.

There once was a girl, thought, as she stepped front and center, who was seen.