memories, just before King Lear, Starring Geoffrey Marlowe

He sat backstage on the plush sofa, waiting for his entrance.
He kept an eye out for the directors exit after the house speech. That would signal the beginning of the play, of which he was the star.
He was King Lear.
He knew that the crowd would go wild as he entered, regardless of whether or not he did a good job, but he would anyways,
he would be brilliant as always,
because he was Geoffrey Marlowe.
_________

I gain consciousness as he drifts off into a light nap.
I hate this, all I can do is remember and pontificate.
I cant do anything, he wont let me.
I remember my life before he took over,
it wasnt that great. It'd be nice to try again.
But he wont let me.
I had a wife,
she left me.
she said I was too involved in my work.
That was true, but it wasnt why she left.
She left because my work didnt pay enough.
She had come from a wealthy family, the type that likes to associate with actors and artsy people so they can seem cultured.
I think thats why she married me.
but she couldnt get a job to save her life, and I couldnt provide.
so she left me.
We had three daughters.
I miss them.
We had joint custody, and after they left home they still visited me.
For a while.
as Geoffrey gained more sway they began to avoid me,
they criticized my lifestyle, said they would stop supporting me.
Its not like they did anyways.
They would send me money, because they thought I needed it. I never spent it.
I still have it all, its in an envelope under a piece of lead under the stage.
They stopped calling, we havent heard from them in years.
They are married, that happened before they stopped calling.
I liked the youngest's husband, some french guy, treats her like a princess, a perfect gentlemen.
The others are nice enough, I'm still not sure that they are worthy of my daughters. The eldest's might, he seems like a better man than he lets on.
I hope I can break free, I want to see them again.
I want to be better.