[Short Short] Acute Curtain Call Poisoning
There is no rustle of actors' costumes in motion here, no stern critiques from stage directors, and certainly no thunderous applause from the audience.
All that exists is the sound of breathing played by machines. My lifeline. Beyond the white curtain, there are no eyes sparkling with excitement, only old people like me, waiting for the visit of the Grim Reaper.
A long time has passed since I retired from acting. I want to hear that applause that fills the air just one more time.
However, it is no longer possible for me to return to the stage. My life is so fragile it feels like it would vanish if the wind blew. Ah, I should have bathed in that sound more. I should have peeked out from the wings of the stage as many times as I could. I should have looked into the eyes of each and every one of them and seen the light they held.
My life is ending. The light is fading. Is this the feeling I will carry as I pass away?
The doctor approaches. He checks my pulse. He nods to someone, and then closes the curtain surrounding my bed.
Then, I heard it. From beyond the curtain, a smattering of applause began, gradually growing in number until it filled the entire room. It couldn't just be my relatives, the doctor, the nurses, and the other patients in the ward. The faces of my old fans come to mind. Ah, everyone, did you come for me?
The white curtain turns into a stage curtain. The pale fluorescent light turns into a spotlight. As the curtain call rings out, I step onto the stairs to the sky. Taking the hands of my friends who have already passed, I take my final bow.
"Thank you very much."
The face in death was not that of a gaunt old man, but that of a stage actor in his prime.
End
Hmm, I feel like this might not quite follow the prompt 😓
I participated in Tarahakani-sama's Weekly Short Short [Acute Curtain Call Poisoning].
The previous prompt is here
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