The Doll by Sarai
Lights up on Sara and Aaron sitting outside on a bench. Sara has a doll tucked under her arm and is sitting close to Aaron, but isn’t leaning against him. Sara is staring upward, and Aaron is leaning forward, looking at his hands.
Sara: (looking upward) Does Winter exist in Heaven?
Aaron: (Looks over at Sara) Do you want it to?
Sara: I don’t know. (Looks down at Aaron) Do you think that my wishing for it would make it come true?
Aaron: (Sits up straighter) I don’t know if wishing makes anything true. But maybe sometimes truth makes us wish. What kind of winter do you think Heaven would have?
Sara: (Looks upward again) I would hope it would have a soft winter, a gentle death for all things that must die. Though, suppose there is no winter in Heaven, because there is no death. (Looks down at her doll) But how sad to never see spring again.
Aaron: Why would you never see spring again?
Sara: (Looks at Aaron, Earnestly) Because spring isn’t truly if there has been no winter. There can be no rebirth if there is no death first. If there is no death, no winter, there can be no rebirth, no spring.
Aaron: There could still be spring. Except it wouldn’t be rebirth, it would be birth alone.
Sara: Then it would be spring alone, all the time.
Aaron: I suppose so. Would you mind if it was spring always and never any other season?
Sara: (Pauses a moment) I don’t know. I would miss summer and fall.
Aaron: Would you miss winter?
Sara: (Wistful) Yes. I would miss winter too. (Turns to Aaron) What do you think Heaven is like?
Aaron: (Breaks off looking at Sara and stares out toward an unseen horizon) Empty, endless blue sky. Fluid like water tripping over smooth stones. Trees that are the color of Autumn always. Oceans of color and emotions and light stretching away forever and ever. Perfect in its imperfections and Imperfect in its perfection. Poetically un-poetic and Un-poetically poetic.
Sara: Like a dream one never fully wakes from?
Aaron: Yes, a dream that you can never fully walk away from.
Sara: Why do you think that?
Aaron: (shrugs) I don’t know.
Sara: I hope it is the way you say. (Lays head on Aaron’s shoulder)
Aaron: (Looks at Sara, then lays head on her head) Suppose we go back inside? It is almost time for dinner.
Sara: (Sighs) Even Heaven must end.
Aaron: (Tips Sara’s face up to look at him) Why do you say that?
Sara: Because sometimes wishing creates truth and truth gives life to wishing. (Stares at Aaron a moment, Kisses Aaron’s cheek, then stands and then exits the stage)
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