Together

One Last Time

This one's a sad boi, awww. But big hugs go to whoever can pick out my reference to The Prom in here. Please don't kill me for this chap. It had to happen. Comment and vote if you wish x
-ab

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November 28, 2026

Harper

When I show up to the theatre for the first show on our final day of performances, the atmosphere in the theatre is completely different than it has been any other day. It is time for our beautiful show to close, and there's nothing that any of us can do about it.

It takes all that I have in me to not cry during our first show. I manage to make it until our bows without tears. I don't think that I'll be able to say the same in a few hours, during our real, final show of Anastasia.

"What do you say to one final run to Vapiano for a quick dinner in between shows?" Kath suggests to me, poking her head into my dressing room.

"That sounds perfect," I tell her. "God, I would love some pasta right now."

"I think we can make that happen," she tells me, then leaves my room. I finish getting changed into my street clothes, slipping a Les Miserables beanie over my wig cap and pincurls so that I won't have to redo them, and making sure that my dressing room is all packed up. Most of my decorations were taken down yesterday. I just have a picture of Patrick and I hanging on the mirror still, as well as my makeup and other show essentials.

Soon, I grab my wallet and phone, then meet up with Kath. The two of us walk to the restaurant and place our orders.

It isn't very long until I find myself sitting in my dressing room again, doing my makeup for our final performance of Anastasia, ever. Even while doing my makeup, I have to force myself to not cry, as I can't ruin my mascara already.

I hear a knock on the door and call for the person on the other side to come in.

"Hey girly," Toby says to me. "I just wanted to say thanks for being a great Anya. It's really been an honour to work with you, and I have a little closing gift for you."

"Oh my gosh," I say, jumping up and throwing my arms around my friend. "I have one for you, too."

He hands me a small package, and I hand him a similar one. I got the entire cast a simple, framed picture of us that we took during our photo call, way back at the beginning of our run. The frame is engraved with a phrase from our show, 'Once Upon a December.' On the back of each frame, I taped a little personalized note for each person.

"Can I open it now?" I ask him.

"Of course," he tells me. Inside of the package is a gorgeous bracelet. It is a simple silver band, and, inscribed in loopy cursive letters, are the words "home, love, family." It's, of course, a reference to my lyric in 'Journey To The Past.'

"Toby, it's gorgeous," I tell him. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome," he says. "Now, let's go out there and do this thing one last time. Together."

"Together," I smile at him. He grabs my hand and gives it a little squeeze before leaving my room.

I try to think of all of the happy things happening tonight. Patrick and my mum are coming. Nessa is coming. I will finally get to meet Colin. I'm going to get to go to a fancy closing party.

But there are too many sad things that keep coming back to me. It'll be the last time that I do each and every moment of this show. Last 'In My Dreams.' Last 'Journey To The Past.' Last 'Paris Holds The Key (To Your Heart.)' Last 'In A Crowd Of Thousands.' That one might be the saddest of all. I'll never again have a gun pressed to my head as I'm wearing a gorgeous red ballgown. I'll never again share a kiss with Toby- but that one's awkward. I won't miss it too much. What I will miss the most is something that I don't want to admit will be a last tonight- but realistically, it probably will be: my last time sharing the stage with Katherine.

I have to try to forget all of that, though. It's still my responsibility to put on a great show tonight. I try to focus on other things, instead of the closing.

I'm leaving for New York in two days. Thankfully, we were able to move our trip, as the original dates still conflicted with the show. Nessa, Kath, and I are going to have so much fun seeing shows and exploring the city.

So many of the people whom I love most are out there watching me tonight. I'm going to get to see all of them after the performance.

I have a pretty new dress for the party.

Good things, Harper. Focus on good things.

I listen to music and try to breathe for the few spare minutes that I have before my first entrance. I count my breaths to try to stay calm. Just breathe. In. Out. In. Out. Remember Harper, oxygen. In. Out. In. Out.

Before I know it, it's my turn to go onstage. My final first entrance.

Thankfully, the show runs amazingly smoothly. Everyone wants our last show to be amazing. We want to end on top.

The first act ends soon enough, and it's gone lovely. Without a single glitch. Nobody messes up their lines or misses an entrance or falls onstage. Issues like that happen more commonly than you'd expect.

"What do you say, Harper?" Kath asks, poking her head into my room during the interval. "One last SIP?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," I tell her. "Get in here, you."

She comes into my dressing room and sits on the floor while Jenni does my wig for the last time.

Then, for the last time, we make some silly poses and take some silly pictures.

"You ready for the second act?" I ask Kath, as the two of us are walking to the stage together.

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be," she tells me. "One last 'Quartet At The Ballet,' and I say we savour it while it lasts."

I grab her hand and smile. "I think that's an excellent plan."