The girl sat quietly staring at the screen before her.  The glare from her glasses obscuring her eyes completely.  To anyone looking at her, she would just look as if she were reading an interesting news report, or some other moderately interesting website.  Only she knew exactly what she was seeing before her in black and white. 

For a moment her gaze faltered as she wiped away a small, crystal-like tear from her cheek.  The only noise above her deep, slow breathing was the whirr of the computer and the click of her mouse.  A  sudden movement and a stretch later found the Girl walking across the floor - she didn't really know where she was going or what she was doing, all she needed to know was that the wind was warm enough now for her to walk far from home without an overcoat or a sweater.

The Girl picked up her guitar and slung it over her shoulder before reaching for her notebook and pen:  A scribbled note and a moments pause was all it took for her to inform her parents that she would be home....late.  Late was always such an ominous word.

Walking along the dusty path just beyond her neighbours garden, the Girl stopped and looked up, removing her glasses for the first time, revealing bright green eyes, marked only with a streak of hazel in the right one.  There was no saddness, no anger or bitterness in them, only doubt.

Continuing on her way, the Girl quickened her pace - it wasn't for a lack of love of this place, it was for an impatient longing to see the Boy again.  Step by step she was getting closer to where they would meet and sure enough, as she turned the leafy corner in the road, he came into view.  For the first time the Girls face painted a true picture of how she felt - happy and releived to see the Boy but still with the shadow of a doubt on the whispy fringes of her mind.

The Boy held the Girl for a heartbeat and then turned with her to face the road from which he had come.  Each and every step starting to feel more unstable and heavy, the only thing that ensured the Girl that she would be ok was the Boys presence.

Before she knew it, they had arrived at the Girls destination - The building was massive.  Compared to the sunlit sky outside, it seemed like a cave, a cave bustling with a thousand voices that only made the Girl more nervous and doubtful, the only clarity coming with the Boys words.

A quick smile, a peck on the lips and a squeeze of the hand and he was gone - The Girls heart was in her throat.  She turned and slowly walked towards the door, removing her guitar from her shoulders.  Clutching the instrument tightly, the door swung open ready for her to walk through.  There was no make up, no preperation and no rehearsal.  This was it, it was time to play the music and sing the words that everyone would know and that only the Boy already did.

The only warmth she knew was in front of her, smiling broadly.  She knew she couldn't fail now.  Taking a final deep breath and raising the guitar, the Girl closed her eyes for only a second, opened them and smiled.  The first chords had already played as the Girl opened her mouth and sang the song that everyone must:

"...And all the world's a stage..."



No matter where we come from - whatever our roots, we all play out our own existance on the stage.   Why we play it is of no consequence - it is HOW we play it that matters.