Afterwards: Gloria

"Ten minutes till curtain!"

Gloria checked her hair a final time in the mirror. She went to tuck a stray tendril back into the arrangement, but then noted that she rather liked the single wisp hanging alongside her face, so she let it be.

She stood and turned slowly around, making sure everything was set for the play. Makeup, check…Costume, check…

"Stop fussing, Gloria. You look great."

Gloria pouted at Fred, who was leaning against her doorway, smirking.

"Oh, you," she sighed, brushing past him as she started down the hall. "You're just saying that."

"I am. I'm saying it because it's true." He followed her, still smirking.

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, Fred…"

"Forgive me for complimenting you," he said, raising his stubby arms in mock horror.

She gave him a playful shove.

"Five minutes till curtain!"

Gloria paused at the side of the stage. No matter how good she was at acting, those dire few minutes before a performance always brought the telltale butterflies to her stomach.

"Hey." Fred knelt down and looked her in the eye, concerned. "Just take a deep breath, Gloria."

She did, and had to admit she felt rather relaxed.

"Better, right? Now go break a leg out there, okay?" He smiled broadly. "We both know you can do this."

"I can do this," she repeated, and then, collecting herself for her character, strode out onstage.

"And five…four…three…two…"

Seconds before the curtain rose, Gloria cast one last look over her shoulder. Fred was lingering backstage, watching, enraptured, like he had during her performances in the asylum garden.

He smiled and gave her the thumbs-up.

Gloria returned the gesture, and then turned back around, bowing low to receive the audience's applause.