To be the woman who is loved but not chosen. To be the place someone returns to, not the final destination.
Applause rose from the audience as the scene came to a temporary close. In her seat, Valerie joined in, clapping with mechanical politeness proper, composed, yet not truly present.
Because without realizing it, she was no longer merely watching an opera.
She was staring into a mirror.
The opera ended on a long, bitter note a finale that offered no relief, only a heavy silence that settled deep in the chest. The curtain slowly fell, the lights came on one by one, and applause filled the hall. Some of the audience stood, while others remained seated, eyes rimmed with red.
Sera and Lira were among the latter.
