My Final Act

"For my final act, I will bring this dead man back to life." Her tone has lost any joy, it's become dejected in defeat.

She flicks her wand with minimal effort. "Nothing...nothing." She begins weeping. "I should have just gotten a boring job like Mom said... a magician? Yeah right. My tricks suck. But I wanted to keep believing I could be like Dad..." Tears stream down her face.

"My stupid dream got someone killed... for what? Just to expose how fraudulent I really am."

She looks down. "Maybe that really was my last act..."

"I want to know how you snuck that card into my pocket."

"That? It was just a sleight of ha-" The woman lurches back as her eyes widen.

"Yo- wh- Did my trick actually work!? Maybe I really do have magical powers!"

"Hate to burst your bubble, but my revival was all me... kinda."

She looks at me with confusion.

Her eyes widen before she begins profusively bowing. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I knew that act wouldn't work!"

"Yet, you were still willing to do it yourself?"

"...Yes."

There's a pause as she lowers her head.

"What did you think of my show?"

"This seems like a rigged question."

...her lower lip quivers, her eyes look as though they are about to water.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for wasting your time, forgetting you caught up in this." She wipes her eyes. Standing up, she begins to walk away in a panic.

"Why do you love magic?" I call out.

She turning with sniffles through her tears. "Bec- Because my dad was a magician."

I recoil in disgust. "Well, that explains it why you failed. Your just pathetic."

Her eyes widen as she looks at me with concern. "Wh- what do you mean? Do you think I should live my life a machine, like everyone else?" She walks back over.

"No, I just think you should be living YOUR life, not trying to continue someone else's as a way to cope with their abandonment." I hope I managed to piece the story together appropriately. Maybe he died?

Her eyes widen as her tone becomes more aggressive. "How am I supposed to do that? It won't change the fact that I'm a fraud."

"Why do you want to be a magician?"

"Because my dad was such a great magicia-"

"Oh my God! Do you ever shut up about him? Removing your father from the picture, what part of magic do you love? The reason you do these shows? The reason you haven't given up on this demoralizing career?"

She looks around uncomfortably. "Well..." she plays with her hands. "...it's..." 

I scoff, narrowing my eyes as I lean in. "Can't even think of anything?" I fake wipe my eyes, babying my voice. "Is someone sad Daddy didn't love them? Trying to prove yourself to a ghost. That really is an all-time low."

Tilting my head back, I look down on her insignificance. "And that explains why you're such a fraud."

Getting up, I pat myself off. Holding up my hoodie, there's countless sword holes impaled all over.

Waving over my shoulder, I begin to walk out, "I hope you enjoy your nine - to - five. We'll see if it snuffs out your crea-"

"Their expression! Their joy! Their wonder!"

Raising my eyebrow, I grin. "Hmm? What was that?"

Her eyes water, yet she looks at me with determination. "I love seeing the excitement and wonder in their eyes! It's the same reaction I always had when my dad performed his tricks!"

"And what did your father love about being a magician?"

She raises her eyebrow before looking down. "I... I dont know."

"Do you see it now? You were borrowing his dreams, a dream without his foundation. You were driving someone else's car with no engine, of course you couldn't move."

"No... engine? But how will knowing this change anything?"

"I can't promise it will make you a better magician. But you've changed your career from a mirror, now YOU are officially a magician." Taking a deep inhale, I put my hand on her shoulder with a warm smile. "How about I make you a deal?"

She wipes her runny nose. "A- a deal?"

"You can live with me for the next three months, rent free..."

Her eyes widen with excitement. "wha?! Really?!"

I put a finger up. "But! On the fourth month, you have to pay rent in full. If you fail to do that, I'm booting you, and I will never cheer you on; I might even sue you for killing me."

That's only a partial bluff. I won't sue her, but I will boot her; I am operating in the grey.

"I'll do it!"

I scoff. "I'm glad to hear it... and if you do any more dangerous acts, let me be the assistant."

She looks away with a pout.

But turns with a weak smile, "...fine."