Lily & Alex - A short play that doesn't seem to end...

Characters: 2 M, 1 F
- Alexander (18)
- Lily (16)
- Terry (10)

(Stage is bare except for a bed in the middle, Alexander is sitting on the edge body bent over as in deep thought. He raises up as lights come up, but can't find strength to get up.)

ALEX: Time passed slowly. As it did, I began to open up and explore more of my new environment and myself. Mentally, I was still shaken up, unstable, like a piece of lighted dynamite. One minute I'd be perfectly fine, but then-- (stops as if reliving it)

... Then the nightmares return to haunt me, and the load of guilt they brought with them. My guilt. One was so dark, and my skin felt clammy and was frozen ice as groups of people encircled me. They were the ones I tortured and... some killed, by my orders. Hands that were starving reached out as if to devour me and others even more indescribable would scream and point at me... and it was my fault. And abruptly it would end.

At times like those I would reach for the old leather Bible that Lily had given me. (Reaches for it and shows it.) Oh the comfort this has given me. It is especially important that it was Greg's Bible. (pause) He who I had once known as my enemy and had succeeded in destroying. (Shames at this.) But now... now his notes and highlighted passages heal my wounds. (Flips through and looks at pages intently.)

Infact, my whole stay at Lily's house has been nothing short of healing and pleasure. All of her family has taken me in, and each moment I spent with them I wish could last for days. Sweetest of all is her mother, Annie, who is an exceptional cook, bringing me many curious meals that taste as delicious as they look. Her words of encouragement and sense of humor make life more (may pantomime and gesture) bearable.

Then there's Terry, her little brother, who is obsessed with card tricks and seems to find a new one to show me every day. I must admit he's not too good, but I enjoy the company and the entertainment. He's just so full of energy you can feel it and it makes you feel light-hearted too. Lily's father, Steward, has made an impact on me even though I don't see him as often as everyone else. He's a workaholic, a true perfectionalist and sometime can get stressed out, especially with his job as an accountant and bills to pay. When he does though, he takes time out to just be alone and sometimes will focus on me and ask how my day has been.

Well most of them are spent in here (gestures) in the guest room. I've been in here for a few weeks - I'm not too aware of the time. (Gets up.) Some days the attacks are so bad I find it impossible to leave the room. Every day is another step from the wreck I was (thinks on this) to the new... (as if searching for the right word) me.

My best parts of the day are spent with Lily. I feel closer to her than to anyone ever before. Before I knew her, she was also my enemy. But ever since the day I found out the truth... about myself and my world... she has really stuck up for me... Although Melanie was the one who, over a short period of months, brought me to this truth; it has been Lily who had taken on the role of my... (searching for the word again)... (smiles) friend.

Everything about her just leaps out at me... likes sparks from a glowing bonfire. Her hair is a vibrant chestnut brown, that falls into small curls just above her shoulder. Her eyes are a pastel blue, like a robin's egg and they're so full of hope. They shine out and show the whole world the inner most corners of her heart. It's as if she's always smiling...

We'd sit and talk for what seemed like hours on anything that came up. That's the way she is... spontaneous. Her slap-stick sense of humor reminds me of her mother's, but she's keenly aware of other people's feeling and can always seem to pinpoint a problem you're having. (LILY enters. Lights dim and rise.)

One day I was particularly bored, and as soon as she came in it seemed that she had thoroughly studied me and diagnosed me as such.

LILY: Hey Alex!

(He sighs and looks at floor. She looks carefully and then hurries to imaginary window at left of bed. He senses she has gone there and looks at her in confusion.)

ALEX: (concerned) What's wrong? (Joins her at window.)

LILY: (giggles) Take a look at Mrs. Ashton's poodle. (points out window)

ALEX: Where I don't -- What! Whoa! Ha! (begins to laugh uncontrollably) ... (calms) That is the strangest thing... (chuckle) I've ever seen!

LILY: That tutu is so becoming! (laughs at this) Oh look! Isn't that Liz over there at the park!

ALEX: Yeah, she's with someone... talking to a man in a suit...

LILY: Want to play a game?

ALEX: What!

LILY: (smiles) Let's make up a story about the person she's with!

ALEX: Huh?

LILY: Here. Let's say he's from San Diego, has... a wife and two kids. Now give him an occupation.

ALEX: Oh. How about lawyer since he is wearing a suit.

LILY: Great! (Lights dim slowly) Now let's figure out... (Lily exits)

ALEX: We'd go on and on and make it into a story! Lily did something special for me that day. She taught me how to be... creative.

From then on we'd always "people watch" as she calls it, and I haven't looked at people the same way since. I now know that every person has an untold story to tell. (with intensity) She's just so interesting and so... real. I feel like I can... (crosses to center) that I'm just so full of... (searches for word, but suddenly backs off as if embarrassed)

Sorry, guess I got carried away. It's just that in the past few weeks everything has changed so suddenly. I've gone from being one person to the beginning of another. It seems so long ago, yet I remember it. Lily tells me that for a person to change it can take days to years or anywhere inbetween; effort was what mattered.

I only hope my old ways are buried in the rubble of that cas-- (pauses)... place. And for good. I still feel like my father is watching me. Grading me and blaming me for all the times I had failed to follow in his darkened footsteps. He occupies many of the nightmares, but now... that I know he is gone... dead, I know he can't rule over me or torture any more lives. I'll still have to live with the fact that I did try to duplicate his evil, and many would say in ways I surpassed... ways, and a life, that I don't wish to expand on... at least not now... while the wounds are fresh...

(Lily Enters)

LILY: Hey Alex! Dad wants to know if you want to go fishing with him and Joe this weekend up at "Lake de Fandango." (does a dance)

(Alex laughs at this and joins her in her little "dance". Suddenly TERRY busts in through the door.)

TERRY: (excited) Alex, it came!

ALEX: (Startled by him) What?

TERRY: The video game I ordered remember? You gotta see them! They are so awesome! One's about these knights and...

LILY: How about you go try them out?

TERRY: (looks at them) All right... (sneaks over to Alex. Speaks in a whisper) But you'll play me later, huh?

ALEX: Sure.

TERRY: Yes! (exits quickly)

LILY: So can I tell him yes?

ALEX: I don't know...

LILY: Come on. You need to have a "guy-bonding" thing. How bout I tell him you'll go if you're up to it.

ALEX: Oh... okay. But that's not a yes for sure! (She runs out also.)

(Suddenly Lily pops her head back in.)

LILY: I almost forgot.

ALEX: What?

LILY: Kyle called. He wanted to apologize for accusing you. He wants you to call him back... ASAP... okay?

ALEX: After dinner.

(She nods and exits again. He walks back towards bed.)

ALEX: Kyle. The one person who still hasn't forgiven me. Not that I ever expected he would. After what I did... who could? Sometimes I feel that I have to compete with him for anything, even friendship. Last week he said I was forgiven, but he seemed to still be cautious with me. I feel like there's an impenetrible wall separating us. Last week I thought it was over. Last week on this day I was at the peak of feeling free of my former self, but last week I found Kyle spying on me...

Sometimes I wonder if a person can go back to the way... they were. If I were to... I can't help worrying about it. Lily assures me that I can't; that I may not be perfect, but I'll never walk that road again.

The way Kyle looks at me though... What if I did? What would they do? I told Lily if I ever did just to destroy me. She got upset and said I was talking nonsense and not to worry about Kyle because he's suspicious of everyone. I guess someone has to be... (sits down carefully)

In these weeks, I have learned two things: One, that healing is a slow process, like... microwave popcorn, it happens a little bit at a time, but then sets off a chain reaction, til only afew kernel scars are left. (rubs forearm gently) I also learned that friendship is vital to anyone's existence... I don't know how I lived my first 17 years without it...

I just hope that I will gain Kyle's frienship... and (looks at Bible again) that I won't be the killer of those who sought most to help me... (He bends down again as lights fade, once again in deep thought over something.)

(Fade to Black)

END.