The Open Door - Sean and Kaycee

Epilogue: The Elevator, Again

Let's suppose, for one last time, that souls are like doors. You didn't believe me the first time. But now, perhaps you have seen a bit more clearly what I meant. You've seen how what is closed can be opened. What's locked can be unlocked. What's broken can be fixed. What's lost can be found.

That, dear friend, is precisely the beauty of the human soul: its ability to fluctuate, to regenerate, to evolve, and most importantly, its ability to love. Not just to experience love, but to let love change it in profound and incomprehensible ways. Love makes the human soul as malleable as clay. And because of that, you humans are never the same. Not for a second.

Now, with that being said, let us, you and I, see how this story ends.

*****

The door to the ImmaSpace complex opens automatically as the young woman with brown hair and green-brown eyes approaches it. The familiar surroundings envelop her like an old glove, one that she's kept in the back of her drawer for so long that it feels off-putting and surreal.

The small changes are what stand out to her the most, evidence of how long she's been away. The neon sign that's just a bit brighter than she remembered. A framed picture of the now-married Will and Janelle. A full directory of a much longer list of Immabeast faculty. Timidly, she approaches the directory and traces her finger down to S. Her breath stops.

Sean Lew, resident choreographer and member of the ImmaBeast professional company.

She smiles weakly and a spark of dormant pride flickers in her chest. She knew that he would be here. But seeing his name immediately makes her heart pound faster. Because she knows that after all these years, it can't possibly be the same between them. And she's dreading the changes, the inevitable changes.

She presses the "up" button for the elevator, twisting her hair anxiously. She remembers how slow and unreliable the Immabeast elevators are. The realization hits her: this is where it all began. The elevator. The boy. The door that wouldn't open. The fragments of memory come back to her like puzzle pieces that are just now fitting into place.

Finally, she hears a little ding and the elevator doors open.

There's just one other person inside. Wearing a hoodie that says "LEWSER" on it and intently listening to his music. He doesn't notice her at first. And then--

"Kaycee?"

"Sean?"

He can't believe his eyes. It's her. It had taken him a minute to recognize her because there was something inexplicably different about her. Yes, she was older and prettier (he hadn't believed this was even possible, but Kaycee Rice exceeds all expectations). But it wasn't that. It was something else, something that he couldn't put into words. Openness? Completeness? Contentment?

It's strange for him to see her in person. She had visited him every day in his thoughts since she'd left so long ago. She'd been the inspiration for every piece he had ever choreographed. Somehow, every time he danced, he thought of her. Scratch that, anytime he did anything she had managed to work her way into his mind. Sometimes, when he was sleep-deprived, he could have sworn that he'd seen her luminous green-brown eyes watching him.

And now she was here. In the flesh. Not just a figment of his imagination any longer.

"Is it really you?" he blurts out. "Kaycee Rice, the genuine artifact?"

She laughs, and the melodious sound brings back millions of memories, like mosaic tiles creating a beautiful mural.

"Yes, it's me. You look an awful lot like this boy I used to know, except you're about five inches taller and you've got a new haircut," she responds teasingly. "It looks good on you."

He blushes. "What brings you back to Immaspace?" He tries to sound casual, but deep down he hopes that she's here to take his class. She's probably just here to visit everyone, he thinks, checking himself, don't get your hopes up.

"Well, since I'm visiting LA, I wanted to come over. You know, just to visit everyone and walk down memory lane."

"Oh," he says, trying (and failing) to hide the disappointment in his voice.

"I'm joking, you dummy," Kaycee says, laughing again. "I wouldn't miss your class for the world."

His face lights up. "That means so much to me. You've been doing amazing, by the way. A tour with Demi Lovato, dancing for world-renowned choreographers, teaching and choreographing at a million different places, and graduating as valedictorian of Julliard? Do you even sleep?"

"Have you been stalking me, Sean Lew?" She smiles teasingly at him, and it makes his insides feel strange and gooey.

"N-no, I just--" He looks up at her sheepishly. "Okay, maybe just a little bit of lurking on social media. Actually, a lot."

"It's okay, I've been stalking you too. Your life is endlessly fascinating, Shamu."

The old nickname slips out of her on accident, out of habit. They both realize it at the same time and both turn red.

"Uh... this is a slow elevator, isn't it?" Sean says, scratching his ear awkwardly.

"Right, yeah," Kaycee replies, distracted, "um, what did you say, sorry--"

She's interrupted by the little ding that tells them that they've arrived at the right level.

"Shall we go?" she asks tentatively. But then she realizes that he's holding down the CLOSE DOOR button. "Sean, what are you doing?"

"I--" he pauses, looking confused. "Dammit, I can't do this anymore," he blurts out suddenly. His eyebrows are furrowed and he looks flustered.

"Can't do what?" She looks at him, her eyes wide with concern.

"I can't keep pretending like I'm not desperately in love with you."

She stops in her tracks. Stunned, she stares at him wide-eyed.

"That got your attention, didn't it? Kaycee, you're just--you just--" He closes his eyes to gather his thoughts. "Ever since you left... you haunted me every day. In my dreams, but also in the waking hours. There wasn't a second that you weren't with me. I've realized in this time that we've been apart physically that I never want to be away from you ever again."

She's silent. His outburst makes her both extremely happy and extremely nervous, and she doesn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry, that was a lot. I know it's been seven years. This must be so weird for you. But it's all true, believe me."

Sean glances at her anxiously. To his relief, she's smiling.

"I have good news for you then. I'm moving back to LA. So... we'll probably be seeing each other more often. I hope." She casts him a bright smile.

He grins back at her, his dimples on full display. "Then I just have one more question for you. Can we start over? Will you, Kaycee Rice, give this Lewser a second chance?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

She takes his hand. He releases the CLOSE DOOR button.

And they walk through the open door together. 

THE END

or... is it the beginning?

(yes. i had to.)

keep reading for author's note and a NEW STORY :)