/ phantom /
a figment of the imagination
"She was like a dark wave crashing upon the bright shores of his horizon."
Anne Wheeler. An outcast. A loner. A street orphan. A disregarded, disgraced child born out of wedlock. A broken girl waiting for a s...
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Bec wasn't allowed to leave the hospital for at least another month after that.
However, the entire time, Anne sat by his side, telling him stories, laughing at his jokes, keeping him updated on future plans for the show and simply pouring out her heart to him.
Life hadn't been an easy road for either Anne or Bec to travel on but, together, it could be a hell of a lot easier.
By the first week, Bec's swelling had gone done. By the second, his infection was clearing up. By the third, he was able to sit up in bed without feeling much pain. By the end of the fourth, he could stand and walk slowly around by himself with the help of a support stick.
The doctor, confident that he was well on the road to recovery, discharged him from the ward roughly a month after the fire at the museum had taken place.
On the day that Anne was to go and collect him, though, she received a series of surprises and good news.
That morning, Anne was up bright and early. For the first time since Oma had died, she was able to go about her duties with a smile on her face and a song on her lips.
"Mein kind, wann immer du dich aufgeregt fühlst denke daran, dass ich immer in deinem herzen bei dir sein werde [My child, whenever you are feeling upset, remember that I will always be with you in your heart]."
As her grandmother's words echoed through her mind, Anne let a soft sigh of contentment escape her mouth.
All was well.
She could finally be at peace.
Sucking on the corner of her bottom lip, Anne chanced a quick glance around the room and shook her head in amusement.
After the devastating fire that had burnt the museum to the ground, the city council decided to step in and assist the now-homeless performers.
With help from their wide base of fans, Barnum and his recruits were able to rent out a large apartment in the central city while they were getting back on their feet. Everyday, they would return to the site of the fire and aid the clean-up crew with the disposing of the charred wreckage.
In the meanwhile, Phillip, with some help from his contacts, secured a plot of land down near the edge of the river that rippled its way through New York. Barnum bought a massive tent, with an accompanying flagpole, strings of bright, flickering lights and an entire truck-load of wild and unusual creatures, to pitch on the airy space.
It wasn't like the arena or the museum at all...but it would have to do for now.
In order to make the most of their situation and do what was best for the entire team, Barnum and Phillip shook hands over a deed stating that they were now equal partners in running the show.
