Places

She played the lead in a musical I wrote in college. Now I’m watching her in another play, a better actress, and it’s thirty years later and the second act for both of us. It is reassuring to recognize how her body has changed, but not her smile, her shy dignity; that was never a performance. Whole lives led since last we met in a playing space, and I exit the theater with a hidden smile, quiet satisfaction. That both of us have done well, played great parts, achieved success, helped others, loved our everyday performances, never really forgotten the thrill of finding our light, projecting, acting.