Epilogue
Sometime the Next Year
Tears fell quickly down my face, and a look of complete anguish was obvious in my eyes. The tears were real, or as real as stage tears could be as I stared at the woman in front of me. She had just told me that she didn't want to deal with me anymore. What kind of mother said things like that anyway?
"You don't want to deal with me anymore? You don't want to deal? I'm your daughter, your child. You're supposed to love me no matter what, Mom, that's what parents are for. Have I been that bad? Have I failed you so much that you want to pretend I don't exist? Is that what this is, Mom? I'm not good enough for you?"
"You're just not perfect, sweetheart, and I'm too damned old to deal with an imperfect child."
"Of course I'm not perfect! I'm your daughter, and you're pretty far from perfect yourself. I'm glad you don't want me around, because I can't bear to look at someone who is supposed to love me and doesn't," I screamed, pushing the tears off my face. The shine in my eyes, which had been covered with green contacts, looked honestly furious.
I stared at my face on the big screen, amazed by the emotions present in my own acting. When I had heard that I was nominated tonight, I had thought that it was a mistake, but as I sat there beside Bruce in my cushioned chair, and watched myself on the screen, I knew that I was living any actor's dream, and, more importantly, that I deserved it. I had never really thought that I was that great at acting before, but that scene from Perfect looked so amazing.
I remembered the day that I'd filmed it. Nancy, being her usual self, had continually told me that my tears weren't enough, and my emotions weren't believable. I'd stormed off to take my five-minute break, and tormented myself with memories of my father to put myself in the proper mood. I was going to feel a combination of sadness and anger if it killed me, because I absolutely would not fail in delivering a good performance. Obviously, it had worked, because I was now sitting in a theater surrounded by the most successful people of my field, and nominated in a category against four amazing women that I felt I had no hope of beating. "It was an honor to be nominated," I reminded myself silently, as I watched the scene of another nominated actress, who had gotten her nod for portraying a serial killer.
"I have no shot at winning this," I said to Bruce.
He pulled my head against his shoulder and smiled, "Sure you do, Hannah. You were amazing in that film."
"Not as amazing as these women. They are awe-inspiring."
"Don't worry about it, sweetie," he said, gently massaging my shoulder, which was left bare above the pink satin of my gown. "Even if you don't win, you can be proud of yourself. You're barely twenty years old, and you have received one of the highest honors in your field. Now suck it up, and smile for that camera, they're about to announce the winner."
I pulled my head off Bruce's shoulder, grasping onto his hand tightly, and plastering my best smile onto my face. I knew that I wasn't going to win this, so I might as well smile and be a good loser. I didn't want to make a bad impression by being too upset on such a popular award show.
The actor, who had won the year before, stood casually at the microphone, holding a thin envelope in his hand. Inside that envelope was my destiny, my shot at achieving my life-long dream at the tender age of twenty. He cleared his throat and smiled, "And the Oscar goes to…" He paused. "Oh, the suspense, I love it," he said, as he struggled to unseal the envelope and read the winner, "Hannah Hale for her performance in Perfect."
I looked at Bruce, and he nodded at me, smiling. My mind was racing, not to mention my heart. Oh my God, I had just won an Academy Award. Bruce and I stood up, and I kissed him with excitement, before I turned to walk toward the stage.
I walked down the aisle to the sound of some announcer giving a brief summary of my career, including something about being the first actress to win for best actress before reaching the age of twenty-one, and I just hoped that I wouldn't trip and fall. When I reached the stairs I realized that I would have to make a speech, and my heart began to beat faster. I hadn't prepared a speech. I was so sure that I would lose.
The actor who had made the announcement hugged me, handing me the envelope, and a woman in a long black dress handed me a heavy gold statue. I made my way to the microphone at a complete loss for words.
"Wow," I began, staring down at the objects in my hands, "I don't know what to say. Honestly, I was nominated with such amazing actresses that I didn't write a speech. I was expecting to lose tonight, so I guess, since I'm not prepared, I'll just speak from the heart. This is the most amazing experience of my life. It's a goal that I never thought I would achieve. Umm… I guess I should thank a few people. My mom, who is so amazing, and gave so much for me. Bruce, my boyfriend and the love of my life. You have brought so much meaning to my existence. I don't know where I'd be without you. The cast of Perfect. You guys made this experience so great. You were fun and nice and you didn't get on my case when I was a snob. I share this award with all of you, because it takes more than one of us to make a great movie. Of course, my little sister and best friend. You have been my inspiration for as long as you've been alive. I love you, and I can't wait to work for you, and see you standing on this very stage someday. I know that I'm going to forget people, so I should just end this by thanking my family and friends, everyone who has supported me and all of my fans. Thank you all so much. This is the most wonderful surprise ever."
Music began to flow out of the orchestra pit as I turned and walked back stage with the actor that had given me the award. My entire body was shaking as I carried the heavy statue of a man away from the stage area. I was having trouble catching my breath, and I had no idea where my life was going from there, but at that moment I could honestly say that I felt complete. It was one of those endings that I had always imagined for a book or movie, entirely cliché, but beautiful nonetheless. If I hadn't been living it, I would have thought it was all make believe. I was really there, though, trying not to hyperventilate as my entirely predictable story came to a close.
A/N: So there is my short epilogue and the end of my story. I hope that you enjoyed it. If you want to know what happens next, go to my profile and read In the Shadows, the sequel. It hasn't been edited recently, but it should still make sense for the most part, except that Caleb's name is spelled with a "K" and probably a few little changes. If you find anything that doesn't fit, let me know and I'll look into it the next time I edit it. Let me know what you think of this story too with a review or an email. I love y'all for reading and I really value your feedback. Thanks for sticking with it. - Bridge