I dedicate "Strong" to Julia Murney and Kendra Kassebaum who leave WICKED Broadway tomorrow (10/7/07).
"Oh, Elphie…what have they done to you?"

It was all Elphaba could do to restrain herself from climbing out of her hiding place beneath the trap door. Glinda's sobs were magnified ten times beneath Kiamo Ko's cold stone floor, and for once Elphaba wished no one loved her, because that way, Glinda wouldn't be crying, and Elphaba's resolve wouldn't be breaking. But she had to stay strong; if she wanted to keep Glinda, Fiyero, and herself safe, she had to stay strong.

Elphaba looked up at the trap door and placed her hand against it. "Be strong, Glinda, be strong."

TBC