the velvet curtain (10)

He would never leave. He would become like Amadeus, a living ghost, sustained by the theater but bound to it forever. Every performance, every role would be his last—and yet, he would never truly be free of it.

With a sharp intake of breath, Elliot snapped back to reality. He was standing center stage, alone, the weight of the decision pressing on him.

He could hear the distant hum of the world outside the theater—life, time, and everything beyond this velvet-draped stage. For a moment, the desire to stay almost consumed him.