Not For a Second

I stood backstage and watched the play.  Until this very show, I thought I had done the right thing, gone down the right path, but now I wasn’t so sure.  I had believed Derek when he told me things were going to change, but we were now ten weeks into the show and everything was exactly the same.  I had always wanted to be in theater whether I went the way of being an actress or working in set design. 

Derek had brought me into the local theatre, telling me there was plenty of work and plenty of opportunities.  But here I was, watching the work everyone else did, having added nothing to the show.  I had been tempted to throw a wrench in the show, but didn’t want to interfere with everyone’s hard work.  Just Derek’s.  In reality, I knew I would just leave.  Derek never gave, he only took. 

He was full of broken promises and fractured dreams.  I was too exhausted to get even with him.  There had been too much of my time invested in dealing with and worrying about Derek.  I sighed as my favorite scene ended and turned toward the exit.  It was finally time for me to move on, once and for all.  But not until I set Derek’s beloved car on fire.  I knew it was the only way to hit him where it hurt.  If only I had known before the fire, he was asleep in the backseat.