#002-Love (Broadway's Finding Neverland, J.M. Barrie and Sylvia Llewelyn Davies) 600 words
The play was certainly James' best. As Sylvia watched the characters' adventures unfold before her, she tried as best she could to show the respect it deserved and hold back the coughs. The pain was spreading much faster than before; it had settled in the lungs but was now causing her chest to ache and her head to spin. She knew it was coming. Will the boys be ready?
As the play neared its end, the fairy Tinker Bell began to die. An instruction to clap sent her hands flying, making as much noise as her weak body could muster. And it worked. The light soared into the air. The fairy was alive. And Sylvia felt deader than ever.
"That is Neverland," Barrie softly whispered to her, passing the light into her hand as he pressed his lips softly to her cheek.
Picture a land that you never have seen, where life is eternal and evergreen.
Sylvia could see it. The nursery walls gave way to a new world. It had… colors. Lots of colors. And light. And… warmth. And the scent of flowers. All blossoming into the world of her dreams. A world where she was alive. Her chest tightened.
A future of happiness all in your hands, all in this place of your dreams, here inside Neverland…
She could see her boys: little Michael all teary-eyed with Jack comforting him, George vowing to lead the family, and Peter… a new Peter. One who was numb, but not bitter. One who would miss her, but not to the point of hurting himself. And when she saw them like that, she knew they were all ready.
As James spoke the tender words, she longed to be in his arms, to forget the troubles she had, to be safe. And when she looked into his eyes, she could tell he wanted that too.
Then she felt it.
The call to Neverland.
Shooting stars, new shapes and sizes. Awakenings and new surprises, opening my eyes to something happening… Neverland… Universe in constant spinning, every end a new beginning, I begin to feel that something's happening to me…
Sylvia stood slowly. She could see faces around her: Mr. Frohman smiling sadly, her mother's eyes filling with tears, the cast looking on in awe, her children trying not to cry, and James… being there. He was beside her. She could see herself, dancing with him in a grand hall with an approving public, and the loving kiss they had shared weeks before grew warm on her lips. She felt her hands being wrapped in James' as he danced with her, the air filling with voices of a chorus.
You just close your eyes and count to ten, breath in twice, and open them. You know where to go, you have been there before in your heart.
The music slowed as James bowed deeply and she curtsied. He then pulled her into a warm embrace and kissed her one last time. And then her heart stopped. Surprisingly enough, it didn't hurt. She felt free. She could see the sadness in his eyes and tears that began to fall as she walked away, toward the nursery window. A figure appeared: Peter Pan, from the play. He smiled at her sweetly and took her hand, helping her stand on the window seat. With a final look at the people she loved, she let him lead her into the air. To Neverland.
She could hear her beloved boy Peter's voice as he sang out to her one last time.
And by closing my eyes I'll be finding… Neverland.