Miss Jackson {b.u.}

{64}

Joanne Urie:
And there I sat in the dressing room. Opening night for my first ever Broadway play, Phantom Of the Opera. I was awaiting everyone to come to the dressing room to see me. I was putting my makeup on.

The door opened slightly and I stared in the mirror instead of looking back, "look. Theres mama!" Brendons sweet voice spoke out and then smiled softly at me, "and you look beautiful."

I got up from the seat and turned around, squatting to the ground and letting Clover run to me. River was just learning his walking skill and he stumbled over to me and I picked the both of them up, placing them on my hips. Daphne walked over to me and hugged me tightly, "I go on soon."

Brendon leaned against the doorframe. His arms crossed and an eyebrow raised, "oh yeah?"

I smiled softly at him, "mhm."

My phone rang. Nerves kicked in. I had about five minutes before I went on to sing Think Of Me. I couldn't answer. I had no time. I took a deep breath, shaking my hands and Brendon walked over to me, resting his hand along my cheek and then he kissed me, "you'll do great. We'll be front row, supporting you darling."

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I stood. Center stage. The lights were out and I was waiting behind the curtain. As soon as it opens and that spotlight is on me and I have to be perfect. Think of me mainly consisted of my voice, but also consisted of my co-stars voice, Patrick Wilson. Patrick plays Raoul. I hated him, he was really flirty and he's like...half my age.

The curtains opened. The light quickly flashed onto me. I saw Brendon, Daphne, Clover and River in the front row. I saw them wave, well, Brendon made River wave, but I couldn't wave. The music began to slowly play. I placed my hand on my stomach, "think of me...think of me fondly, when we've said goodbye. Remember me, once in a while, please...promise me you'll try."

I took a deep breath and made sure to look at every person, feel every emotion, "and when you find...that once again you long—to take your heart back and be free...if you ever find a moment, spare a thought of me..."

The music grew louder, trumpets triumphed and I walked across the stage, facing the other side of the theater, "we never said—our love was evergreen, or as unchanging as the sea. But if you can, still remember," I began and looked back at Brendon, "stop and think of me."

"Think of all the things we've shared and seen, don't think about the way things might have been..."

I walked back to center stage looking at everyone's faces. I looked around the stage. The music was soft but then grew once more and I could feel the emotion, "think of me, think of me waking. Silent and resigned—Imagine me, trying too hard, to put you from my mind.." I glanced at Brendon, who had his hands in a praying position in front of his mouth, his eyes glistening and trickling tears falling down his cheeks, "look back on all..the times, think of the things we'll never do. There will never be—a day where I won't think of you."

The spotlight disappeared from me and turned to the phantom. I canceled out the unimportant parts. Things I didn't care about. And now, it was Raoul. He took my hand and I hated it, but I had to play the part. We danced—a ballroom dance.

And then it was over. We stood center stage and I could see Brendon getting up, doing a standing ovation. My eyes were only on his and tears welted in my eyes but I enjoyed this moment.