THE SHOW MUST GO ON 
 

A fresh flood of children hop aboard the merry-go-round, mounting tigers that could never bite, holding horses that could never kick. A faceless figure flips the switch and the engine starts, triggering the carousel to rotate once more. Whirling candy-coloured lights and carnival music disguise the world for a moment and I watch from behind the curtain, as the circus works its magic all over again.

 

Backstage masks lay scattered- A crying face hangs off of a broken chair. I do my makeup in the dark. I cannot face reality. The performers change, but the roles remain the same. As I slip into my costume, sparkling with promise of the ultimate performance, I wonder who wore it before.

 

The curtain raises, and the key turns in my back as I begin to dance for the crowd, all my worries dissolving under the bright lights. The character I’m acting opposite hides behind the same mask as the last, and we play at being in love. 

 

Finally, we take a bow and prepare for the closing curtain to wipe away the moment as darkness falls, and the music stops.