JACK'S ROSE
Chapter Thirty-Six
The play had been on for an hour, give or
take a few minutes now, and they were only in the second act.
Nathan sighed and shifted in his seat again.
The pencil scratched the paper noisily as he drew his newest inspiration.
William smiled down at the sketch, then looked back up to the stage.
The theater was packed. William couldn't
imagine anymore people cramming into the auditorium, but evidently, as Susan
had told him, this was a slow night. He shook his head, wondering how on earth
people had the time—or money—to come to these. This was obviously, in no way, a
cheap theater.
Cora and Lilly both seemed to have their eyes
glued to the stage. But of course, that was understandable, he thought to
himself. Rose was a wonderful actress, a passionate actress. She obviously put
her heart into the character.
Then again, William was sure Rose had
something in common with her character. He knew she had loved Nathan's father
with all her heart and that it was devastating to have lost him. He knew
nothing of the man, save one thing—that he, most likely, would've liked him
quite a lot, for if Rose could have loved him so much he must have been an
amazing man.
And Rose—no doubt—had been in the same state
as Juliet when her love died. At the point of suicide.
He frowned.
Intermission.
"Nathan, would you like to get a glass
of water or lemonade?" Lilly asked, standing. He shook his head, not
looking up. Lilly sighed. "Will?"
"Nah. I'll just stay here."
"Guess it's just you and me, Cora,"
Lilly said, straightening her skirt. Cora smiled, stood, and followed Lilly up
the aisle and out the large double doors.
William stayed in his seat and watch as
Nathan devoted all his attention to his drawing, as the actresses and actors
were no longer on stage.
But soon, the audience returned and the play
started once more.
William was right.
Rose had much in common with the character
she was portraying that night—but much more than he could ever know.
Fair Juliet, engaged to a man she cared
nothing for. Miserable in her life. She meets a man, a man forbidden to her,
and falls in love him. Her entire life is changed in a day. She risks her life
to be with the man she loves. But to be with her, he takes his own life. And in
return, she takes her own.
"Go get thee hence, for I will not
away. What's here? A cup closed in my true love's hand? Poison, I see, hath
been his timeless end. O churl, drunk all, and left no friendly drop to help me
after? I will kiss thy lips, haply some poison yet doth hang on them, to make
me die with a restorative. Thy lips are warm."
"Lead, boy, which way?” a voice from offstage came.
"Yea, noise? Then I'll be brief. O
happy dagger." She reached for
the knife laying across the man's chest. "This is thy sheath,"
she exclaimed, seemingly plunging the knife into her chest. "There
rust, and let me die."
And she fell onto the man's body.
William looked over to Cora and Lilly, both
leaning forward in their chairs, eyes glistening with tears. He could hear
women sniffling from beside him, behind him. He looked up to the stage once
more.
"The sun, for sorrow, will not show
his head. Go hence to have more talk of these sad things; some shall be
pardoned, and some punished: For never was a story of more woe, than this of
Juliet and her Romeo."
And William rose from his seat, clapping
loudly as the actors and actresses lined the stage and bowed. The others
sitting in the front row, save Cora, Lilly, and Nathan, gave him queer looks,
but he ignored them all and continued to make all the noise he could. He could
see Rose forcing a smile to stay off her lips.
And then, Cora stood, still applauding, and Lilly
followed her. In only a few moments more, the entire audience stood, like a
great wave rippling over the ocean, and the plaudit roared throughout the
auditorium.
Rose and William exchanged glances.
Rose and William fell in love.
Again.