Greek Tragedy Scene
BACK
The pale illumination of the moon bathes an open courtyard in its light as a woman enters a balcony and stares up at the stars. She begins to speak of her true love for her best friend who doesn’t understand her affection towards him. She speaks to the trees of the yard, not knowing that her love listens to her, concealed in the shadows of night.
“I stand in the arms of moonlight as I speak of my love. One does not understand. My eyes are set like a stone; for he is the beacon of light that I travel towards. Burning like the endless sun is my love. Yet he shields himself from my rays, he remains unchanged in his stride. But why? All I ask for is a chance. A breath of sweet life into my lungs from his. Why must he look at my soul as a brother would? Why must he be my best friend? Had we not met so many years ago would I still face the choice at hand? If only he would embrace my hand in his, to caress my face in the eyes of dawn. Will not the gods hear my plea? Touch his heart with enlightenment; remove the shadow that hides me. Can he not see my love when I smile and stare into his eyes? What must I do? What I would give to speak my heart to his face. Yet I know better. What would I accomplish? Why break my heart more than it is? Only to hear his sweet voice reply, ‘You have always been my faithful friend through all and I cherish that friendship and I fear ever losing it. You must understand, you are like my sister. You own a brother’s love from me.’ O, I live for the day when he is to take me in his arms as he brushes his lips across mine. But what brother could ever be passionate toward a sister? I am locked in my self-made prison without a key. My mind knows only what lies next to my heart. I have no chance but to break the chain that holds me bound.”
The man below replies to the shadows that surround him.
“My dear sister, had I only known what was in your heart. Forgive me, for I blinded myself to the truth. I only looked away because I was afraid. Afraid of what could be and what might be lost. I have not the will to speak at this moment for fear of losing you forever. Yet what could I say; especially now, now that I have overheard your heart speaking? Why can you not understand how much I do love you? Only I cannot return the affection, as you would have me. We have grown together since the cradle. At times I believe you know me better than I know myself, but I cannot love you, as you would wish me to. My brotherly bond to you is too strong and I cannot look beyond it. I only wish you could understand and forgive me.”
While he speaks, the woman on the balcony pulls from her cloak a dagger that she received as a gift from the young man. At the realization of what he is witnessing, the young man falls to his knees, grasping his heart. Yet, before he is able to call out, Apollo, the god of truth and light, appears before him in his entire splendor and silences the man. Staring down at the man, Apollo looks him in the eye and speaks:
“You intend to speak, but, in the end, to accomplish what? What do you intend to change? Look at her, so beautiful, so delicate. So in need of love. But so disturbed. O, the pain she must feel inside, pain caused by you. So selfish it would be to speak.”
“But lord Apollo, why must such a tragic end come from all of this...cannot a god change her heart?”
“Her destiny has already been decided, her end will not just be for her, but for all those who come after her.”
“I do not understand. How do you expect to give up the one thing that is still sacred to me in this world? Where will I be when she is gone?”
“She will always be with you, always looking down on you until you join her in the underworld. She will serve for all as a guiding light.”
“We are mere mortals. How can her death guide so many?”
“Her place is no longer on the earth. She has won favor with both Aphrodite and myself with her proof of an undying love for one she knows she can never have, and that will be rewarded. By Styx, I will see her transcend into the heavens where she will look down on all for eternity.”
The woman begins to plead for guidance upon the balcony as both Apollo and the man listen.
“I pray now to the gods on Olympus to guide my hand in these next few moments. Sweet dagger of my love’s, the only part of him I own, I call upon you to release me from my dungeon. The only part of him to be bound with me. I feel the pull of my heart on this dagger as the moon pulls the tide. I have begun my journey out to sea, and I close my eyes to night in hopes of waking at a new day. I have collapsed like a bridge, at its foundation. I have nowhere else to turn but to you, o dagger. Goodbye sweet earth, farewell to you moon. I travel onward now. I end my pain. Nevermore will I feel the spike in my side. I will be with you forever my love. My spirit will walk with you until you come to meet me again. I raise my hand to end my life. He has now become a part of my forever. I die happy. Alas, goodbye…”
As she speaks these words she plunges the dagger into her breast. The young man leaps from the shadows letting out a cry, but nothing could be done. She makes no sound as her last breath crosses her lips; stumbles forward to the edge of the balcony and crumples to the floor. Pale-faced and destroyed, the young man collapses. Tears fill his eyes while he pleads on his knees. Apollo strides up to the man and places his hand on his shoulder.
“O, my dear sister, had I only known! Why? My heart has been shattered! I have killed my very sister with a brother’s love.”
“Yes, your love was what killed her, but now by letting her pass, the love she has for you will be immortalizes in the stars. Here, come with me.”
Apollo raises the man to his feet and takes him to a nearby mountain. With a wave of his hand, Apollo clears the skies to reveal a star-filled heaven.
“Look, there in the northern heavens. Do you see it? That is where your sister has traveled. She now sleeps with all those other great mortals loved by the gods. See how it burns so brightly; it burns like the love she felt. Forever will it sit in the northern sky, unchanging, unlike the other stars. Once again, that is because of how she loved you, unchanging and unending. For eternity mortals will be able to use her to guide themselves as they travel.”
The man gazes at the splendor of the star through the tears in his eyes.
“Apollo, what do I do? I have lost everything now. Where will I go?”
“Go to your love, travel to her. You will find what the gods have you destined for in the north.”
With that, the lord of truth vanishes, leaving the man on the mountain, staring into the heavens.
“I will go to you sweet sister. May my feet carry me to where I can, one day, be with you again, to where I can be by your side. Your love for me killed you, but I will live for it and meet the destiny I am owed. And with the good graces of our lords, maybe someday I will see your face again. O, sweet sister…why?”
He buries his face in his hands and weeps for forgiveness. Overhead, North Star shines above with a blazing glory, lighting the entire sky...
