THE last of the credits rolled off the screen. Slowly, the theater lights brightened from front to back. For a moment, the audience remained still, absorbing the final scene. Then, someone in the front row began to clap. Soon, a smattering of applause grew into a standing ovation, the clapping and cheering echoing throughout the theater.
Rhett Archer sat in his seat and watched the crowd with wide eyes. He had not expected this. Not the clapping, not the cheers, not the way people were standing up and shouting. He knew most of it was not for him. That was fine. But a part of this loud reaction was for him too. For the work he had put into his role. For the scenes he had stayed up late to get right. A strange feeling built up in his chest, something between surprise and relief and a kind of happiness he had not felt before. His throat felt tight. He swallowed and looked down at his hands for a second, then back at the crowd.
