When I arrived at the theater with Nito in the passenger seat, I saw that another car had also stopped there. It was facing away from us, and I stopped the Kettle right behind it. Once we’d both gotten out, I took a look into the other car, but there was no one inside. Brushing my hand against the body revealed that it was still warm. They’d either just gotten here or were just about to leave.
Nito, though, didn’t spare the car a glance; she just stood gazing up at the theater.
“Is this the first time you’ve been to a place like this?” I asked, receiving only a nod in return.
Once I’d said it, I vaguely regretted asking for confirmation on something so obvious. I already knew her circumstances, so it was definitely a question born of less consideration than I’d have preferred to use.
“I’ve listened to recordings of concerts and operas. Theaters sometimes appeared in the books I read as well, and I could always connect the descriptions of the voices and music to the real ones I’d heard before. The actual buildings, though, and the kind of atmosphere they’d have, I was only able to imagine from the written descriptions.”
For a moment, I just watched her as she gazed up at the theater, letting her soak it in.
“So how’s the real thing compare?” I finally asked.
Nito looked up at me, her eyes curving into a smile.
“It’s won-der-ful!” she declared eventually.
I couldn’t help but laugh at her exaggerated, drawn-out answer.
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“Is this one a smaller theater?” she asked.
“Probably. I haven’t seen any others here, though, so I can’t say for sure.”
“Do they have them in your world as well?”
“Lots of them. Some could even seat thousands of people.”
She let out a sigh of both surprise and wonderment.
“Incredible. I can’t even imagine that,” she whispered, then said a little louder, “I’m happy just getting to see this one for now.”
She was fidgeting and shifting from foot to foot as she spoke, and I soon realized why.
“You can paint it later. We need to go invite Paula and Jill,” I told her, gesturing toward the entrance before walking in that direction.
“Right,” she agreed reluctantly, drooping as she followed me.
She couldn’t help but lament needing to keep her urge to paint under control. As she passed through the door, though, she forgot her woes and started spinning like a top. She was peering at each and every thing within the lobby. All of it was new to her, and her enjoyment was obvious in her body language. Then, all of a sudden, she stopped with her mouth agape in shock. I wanted to know what could have caused that look on her face, so I followed her gaze, and then my own mouth dropped open.
Paula was hunched over next to the door that led from the lobby to the seats. I already knew her so I could tell who she was, but from Nito’s perspective, she must have looked like some strange man stuffed into a dress and half bent over in order to peek through the door. Nito’s gaze slowly panned over to me and she spoke in a dull voice, her expression somewhat off.
“Let’s go back.”
“You don’t have to look like you’ve just seen something awful.”
Well, not that I couldn’t understand where she was coming from. Seeing Paula doing something so bizarre, added to the shadowy atmosphere in the dimly lit theater—anyone was bound to find it weird. At this rate, Nito really might have just headed back, so I decided to take the initiative. I walked over toward where Paula was standing, with Nito trailing after me.
“Paula!” I called once I’d reached her side, waving my hand near her face.
“Eeek!” Paula jumped, her blonde hair going flying. “Jeez, Kei! Don’t surprise me like that!”
She had her hand on her chest and was gasping for breath, but she wasn’t the only one feeling shocked. Her reaction had definitely startled me as well, and her scream had made Nito jump and hide behind me. Obviously, though, Paula had spotted her, and a bright cheer broke the brief silence.
“Would you introduce me to the fine lady behind you?” she asked.
“Please don’t eat me?” Nito whimpered.
“I prefer bearded men with a touch of class,” Paula assured her.
“No comment,” I answered, ignoring the wink she’d sent my way and pulling Nito slightly out from behind me. “This is my companion Nito. Nito, this is Paula.”
“My... My name’s Nito. Um, it’s nice to meet you. Also, I’m sorry for hiding. You surprised me a little.”
Paula’s eyes widened at Nito’s now-much-clearer speech, and then her expression morphed into a smile as she bent down to meet Nito’s gaze.
“It doesn’t bother me at all. I’m used to surprising people. After all, I’ve got pretty broad shoulders, don’t I?”
I laughed at that joke, and Nito’s eyes began to sparkle at the casual wink Paula tossed her way.
“We can leave the hellos there for a minute,” Paula said. “Come this way. You’ve got great timing.”
She tapped her finger on the door leading farther inside. I assumed that she wanted us to peek through it like she’d been doing. I exchanged a curious glance with Nito and she winked awkwardly back. She must have been trying to imitate Paula’s from earlier. That was so adorable of her that I just had to pat her shoulder, but in return, she buried her fist in my chest. No mercy from this one, eh?
I leaned in closer to the door like Paula had indicated, rubbing at my chest. Nito crouched at my feet, also pressing her face up to the door.
“I’m opening it,” Paula said, pulling gently at the handle.
The very instant the door cracked open, I felt an almost physical strike to my temple and a shiver ran down my spine. Issuing forth from behind the door was...song. Now, I’d heard plenty of songs. There were hundreds on my phone. I’d never had a song so deeply engulf me, though. The words echoed through my head, and the sweetness of the voice caressed my ears. It was all so...beautiful.
I suddenly noticed that I’d stopped breathing. The fading edges of my vision and the slight wooziness pulled me back to reality, and I realized that, for a moment, I had been utterly entranced by the song. The feeling of lying in a boat on a lake in the warm spring sun came to mind. The tension left my shoulders, and my heart was at peace. Gradually, my breath returned to me and air slowly filled my lungs. It was all so calming.
If I could, I thought, I’d spend my whole life listening to this.
My eyes had been opened, like I’d spent a long period asleep and had just woken. It was a bizarre combination of oblivion and peace. I felt as if the stagnant feelings in my heart had been washed away and replaced with pure water.
“Amazing, right?”
I couldn’t muster a reply to Paula, just a nod. All I knew was that I’d experienced something incredible.
At that same moment, Nito shot up. The motion was forceful enough that it knocked me back. She used both hands to push open the door and then darted inside. Paula and I looked at each other as we heard her footsteps fade into the distance.
Soon after, an almost pitiable scream made its way to us from inside.