Leaving the stage

I can't get off stage. The music just keeps crescendoing faster and faster. The faster the music the faster I go through the motions. I am an actor. I am okay. I slip and fumble - I forgot my character shoes. I look down and notice I forgot my costume too. I was not prepared to be thrown out on stage like this but faster and faster I go. The violins shrill in tremolo as I pose gracefully on one leg for one final pause before I begin the act again. I am 89.2 I think to myself in this pose. I will be 88 again. And the music stops suddenly. I creep down from my pose and just stand on the stage. I look out into the dark crowd, look over every face that I can make out. Friends, family. The music doesn't start up again. But the static does. I mouth "I'm sorry" and back away, to be engulfed in the curtain. I walk backstage and out the back door, into the street. Inside, the music starts up again to an empty stage.