‘I know.’ Oscar nodded.
‘No, you don’t know. Don’tjusthearme,listen tome.’ Walter had never raised his voice in anger, but he thought if any moment called for it, it was in these last moments of his life. ‘Every molecule of that girl loves every molecule of you. Do you know how rare that is? Do you think you’d be able to find that again with someone else? I’ve watched you both walk past me a hundred times, together but also alone. When you’renot around, I’ve watched her collect your mail with her own and deliver it to you, so she’d have another excuse to spend time with you. I’ve seen her struggle through doors with a cup of coffee in each hand to surprise you. God knows how many times she burnt herself. She’s signed you in and out of this building because you’ve forgotten more times than I can count, and she always doubles backdown the corridor at the end of the day to check your door for your key because you never remember to bring the bloody thing back.’ Walter’s legs buckled underneath him, and his knees hit the stage with a gruesome crack. ‘And she never complains, Oscar! Because she doesn’t have to. That’s all just part of what loving someone is to her. And in the same way you’re only hearing me and not listening tome, you’re looking at her but you’re not seeing her.’
‘He’s right. I can feel it. She’s choosing to potentially get hurt by you over and over again because she thinks what you could be together would be breathtaking… if only you were brave enough to take that shot,’ said Fawn, gazing up at Oscar through Olive’s eyes.
Walter’s arm was shaking vigorously now as Hamish was slowly butsurely winning the battle inside him. Walter knew he had little time left to say all the things he needed to say before it was finally all over. ‘I’ve been watchingyoutoo, Oscar. And I see it, don’t think I don’t. There’s only so long you can hide it before it starts manifesting itself in different ways. I see the way your face changes when you see she’s already signed into the building andI see the pride in your smile when she’s signing autographs by your side at stage door.’ Oscar smiled, recognising himself in what Walter said and acknowledging all of the feelings that were starting to poke their heads out of the cage he’d put his heart inside. ‘And Oscar,’ Walter laughed, ‘the fact that I’m knelt here with a gun in my hand proves that you’ve fallen for her as much as she has foryou. Your love awoke the magic that this theatre lost the day Fawn Burrows died.’
‘I know.’ Oscar reached down and took Olive’s hand and Fawn let Olive squeeze it back. ‘I know,’ he said and without meaning to and without warning, Oscar started to cry. It was only a little at first but instead of pushing back against feeling something, Oscar let himself feel it all. Love and sadness gushedthrough him, breaking down every wall he’d ever built.
‘You need to look harder, Oscar. At yourself. Stop holding back. You haven’t got anyone stopping you from doing the things you want to do… not like I have right now,’ Walter said as his thumb pulled back the hammer of the gun. ‘She’s bravely put herself into no man’s land and she’s taken every shot you’ve fired at her because you’rejust too scared to join her.’
‘So, join her,’ Fawn whispered and nudged his arm.
‘And if I may, my darling Fawn, I think it’s time I joined you,’ Walter said, tears starting to spill from his own eyes.
‘Walter?’ Oscar wiped his tears away on the sleeve of his shirt.
‘I’ve never had the courage to do what I thought was right and it’s time that changed.’
‘I’llbe here.’ Fawn smiled, knowingly.
‘Then I’ll see you on the other side, my love.’ Walter took a breath as deep as his tired lungs would let him and with all his strength, he took Hamish by surprise and quickly put the gun against his head. The gunshot rang out across the auditorium and Walter’s old body fell forwards onto his face. His skin was still crackling gently but after a few moments,it fizzled out with a hiss and Hamish was gone.
‘I’ll be gentler this time,’ said Fawn, but Oscar knew she wasn’t talking to him. Then she took a long breath and gently blew into the air like she was blowing out candles on a cake. Hundreds upon hundreds of tiny little lights came pouring out of Olive, and swirled in the air like stars. They spilled out and down like a waterfall, floatingdown onto the stage until they gracefully took the shape of Fawn Burrows herself. She wasn’t sparkling or crackling and this time she wasn’t just an outline. She looked as though she’d been drawn onto tracing paper and then pasted into real life. Olive wobbled for a second and then opened her eyes which were back to her usual, human green and Oscar couldn’t have been more grateful. For a moment,they smiled at each other as if they’d been by each other’s sides for a lifetime already.
‘I’m waiting…’ Fawn called out, rocking back and forth on her heels, her hands clasped behind her back.
‘Calm down, woman. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a body as young as this.’ Walter emerged from the stage right wing in all his former glory. Olive couldn’t help a little sob escapingat the sight of Walter as his younger self, in his shirt and sweater vest and his delightful little flat cap.
‘Oh… oh that’s much better. I didn’t think you much suited wrinkles.’ Fawn pulled off his flat cap and touched his smooth cheek.
‘That’s rich coming from the girl who didn’t even live long enough to have ’em!’ Walter laughed.
‘You two have been back together for allof thirty seconds and you’re already bickering!’ Olive shouted.
‘The lady’s right. I think it’s high time we got out of this theatre, don’t you? I’m sick of it.’ Walter laughed, taking Fawn’s hand.
‘Oh, I don’t know. I rather like it here.’ Fawn smiled, looking around fondly, one last time.
‘I know. You always did.’
‘But it’s time.’ She nodded.
‘It’s time,’ Walteragreed. He looked back up to the couple on the fly floor. ‘Goodbye, you two.’
‘Olive?’ Fawn stepped forward to get a better look at her. ‘Could you do me a favour?’
‘Anything!’ Olive nodded.
‘I watched you. In this show. Every night. And I think you’re just…brilliant.’
‘Oh…’ Olive felt all the breath in her lungs escape her at once.
‘Go and have the career Inever got to have. For me. And please know, I’ll always be your most avid fan.’ Olive couldn’t speak through the lump in her throat so she just nodded and sank into Oscar as he encircled her in his arms.
‘You’re not bad either, Oscar.’ Walter winked.
‘Thank you, Walter,’ Oscar laughed.
