Silence
The silence was unbearable. Glinda gripped the grimmerie tightly and slowly opened her eyes. She was still sat in the small broom cupboard in Kiamo Ko, the door slightly ajar. She was unaware of how long she had been sat there, her knees hugged tightly against her chest. The cries still echoed around her, the girlish scream, and the high pitched cry of pain. The memory was so vivid. She shook her head slightly and lifted her hands to cover her ears, the tears falling freely down her face and into her lap. It hadn't happened. It can't have happened. It wasn't supposed to end like this. Dabbing at the tears she tried to compose herself before she slowly swung the door open. Everyone was gone. The castle was silent. There was a bucket lying on its side, a puddle of water beneath it, still dripping. The place was deserted. A few feet from the bucket, was a grubby looking hat. Her grannys old hat. Elphabas hat. She could recall the screeches of pain that she would forever hear when alone in the dark. The tears continued to roll down her face, and for once in her life, Glinda didn't care that her makeup was smudging. She placed the grimmerie down on the floor and tried to stand up. She'd been curled in the cupboard for so long her legs had turned to jelly. They collapsed beneath her as she thrust her hands out to soften her fall. A sob escaped Glindas lips as she edged her way towards the old pointed hat, picking it up gingerly. There was nothing beneath it but the tiny green bottle, the same one she'd snatched off Elphaba all those years ago. Her best friend was gone. She'd given up the fight. Glinda had been left behind. Drawing the hat up to her chest, Glinda let the sobs flow freely.
'Oh Elphie'
Burying her head in the hat, she breathed in the familiar sent. Time passed undocumented until the sun light hit Glindas face though the window opposite. Opening her eyes, she found everything blurred. She'd fallen asleep on the cold floor, her face nestled in the hat. She watched the clouds drift apart as the sun smiled down on her. Glinda could feel the stains of make-up and the dried tears on her cheeks. It was destined to go wrong. All of it. Everything turned out so wrong, both Fiyero and Elphaba, gone. They'd left her in silence. Pressing her palms against her cheeks, Glinda stood up and gazed out of the window. The birds were singing merrily, blissfully unaware of her inner turmoil. Glinda kissed the hat tenderly and placed it back down, marking Elphabas final resting place. She turned towards the door, but was stopped by one of Elphabas companions. He reached out towards her, presenting her with the little green bottle.
'Miss...Miss, Glinda?'
Glinda touched her lips with her fingertips and reached out, taking the bottle from him. She looked back over her shoulder, glancing once more around the room, her eyes resting on the lonesome hat in the centre. The little monkey stood loyally beside her, the grimmerie tucker safely under his arm. Taking one final deep breathe, they walked through the double doors into the sunlight.