the curtains fall for the last time and as the applause fades and give way to mummurs and whispered chatter the guest file out of their seats. but she remains seated her eyes transfixed on that thick heavy red velvet. around her the noises swirl and she remains oblivious. lost in the darkness of the deep wrenching emptiness that envelopes. inpenetrable, unreachable. her cheeks are wet, stained from salty tears that betray her. she doesnt know how to stand up and keep going. the show is over and she doesnt know how to move on.