The Premiere

The limo pulled up to the theatre, all lights beckoning for people to come to see the newest show: "Drifting Away". Lance stepped out and walked around to the other side of the large, silver car. He pulled open the right side door and offered his hand to the woman seated inside.

She accepted it and gently allowed him to help her out of the car. Her face glowed with unparalleled pride for her husband's accomplishment. She more than anyone else understood how hard he had worked on this play. Her only fear was that it wouldn't garner the success he so desperately deserved.

After all, a play was vastly different than a book, and theatre crowds tended to be much harsher than readers. Critics would be fierce and unforgiving, and she knew it would kill him for this play to fail--he wouldn't admit it, but it was true. He had spent over a year writing, revising, and casting this play, and in all her years of knowing him, she had never seen him so fervently passionate about a project.

They walked, side-by-side, arms linked, up to the front. Lance pointed to the marquee above them. Featured in the sign was his play:

OPENING NIGHT

"Drifting Away"

A play by Lance Blackburn

"There it is, Alexandria," Lance breathed, seemingly in awe of his own achievement.

She squeezed his arm gently, a bright smile painted on her face. "I always knew I'd see your name up in lights," she murmured.

Lance looked at her amorously, his nerves about the show dissipating as he met her eyes, which glowed with the reflections of the theatre lights.

They stepped inside to applause and lights flashing. Of course, there would be fans waiting to catch a glimpse of their favorite author, and newspapers reporting on their hometown celebrity.

Alexandria smiled and waved at the cameras, while Lance stopped to greet a few excited fans.

This was Alexandria's part to play, as the gentle, beautiful, doting wife, and she played it as well as she played any of her other starring roles. She was, in fact, taking a break from a long-running stint on Broadway to spend some time in Jacksonville and see this play.

Perhaps that was why she didn't mind taking a step to the side when it came to Lance's achievements, just as he would do for any of her awards. She enjoyed his world, where the attention wasn't all focused on her.

They managed to navigate through the crowded lobby and take their spots in the front seats. Alexandria looked around every few minutes, gladdened to see the theatre steadily filling with bright faces, full of anticipation.

She noticed Lance glancing at his watch every few seconds. With every passing minute, he seemed to grow more distressed. "What are you waiting for?" she asked gently.

"Wha- oh," he replied dazedly. "I, ah, have to give a speech at the beginning of the play, which is now in..." he glanced at his watch again, "seven minutes. As you can see, I'm kinda nervous."

Alexandria gripped his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You're going to do fine, dear. Words are kinda your thing," she added with a soft smirk.

"I know, but this sets the tone for the whole play, and what if I stumble over my words, what if they don't like the play at all, what was I thinking-" he began to gasp, putting his head in his hands.

Alexandria placed one hand on his back and used the other to gently lift his face and turn it towards her own. "You were thinking, very correctly I might add, that you can do whatever you set your mind to. If you stumble over your words, laugh it off. Everyone in this audience has done the same thing at some point. Finally, if they don't like it, then they are simply missing the absolute artistic genius of the most amazing person I have ever met." She placed a quick, chaste kiss to his lips. "You can do this, Lance, if you can write 500-page books and a two-act play and all the million other things you have done, you can give a quick speech."

His smile told the story of his emotions. As she talked, the stress and panic faded from his mind and from his face, his worry lines and the tension becoming a bright smile and crinkled eyes, glowing with thanks. "Oh, what would I do without you, my rose?"

Alexandria blushed slightly. "Let's never find out, hm?"

Suddenly the curtains opened, crashing their tender moment. A spotlight rose on a podium at the side of the stage, and an usher on the side beckoned Lance. He took a deep breath, cleared his throat, and stepped up into the light.

"Good evening, everyone. I am incredibly grateful that you all have come to see this... this endeavor into a new territory. A foray. This has been my passion, my desire, to write a play, and it has possessed me for the past year. I am truly blessed to be able to share this creation with you, and I hope that you find it worth your time.

I also must thank my beautiful wife, Alexandria. Without her, I could never have finished this, or even have come up here today. She has put up with me in all of my sleepless nights and has always been my biggest supporter. Some of my fans have gone as far to call me 'a new F. Scott Fitzgerald,' and while I hesitate to agree with them, if that comparison is to be made, then she is undeniably my Zelda.

With that all said, I must turn the stage over to the marvelous actors and actresses who I am honored to say will be presenting my play. Thank you all, once again, and I hope it is everything you wish."

Alexandria felt her eyes well with tears of joy, her heart aching with love for him. Lance stepped down, and as he approached his seat revealed a single crimson rose he had hidden behind the podium. As he took his place beside her, he handed her the flower.

"For you, my rose."