Under The Milky Way Tonight

𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐡, 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫

“Is there anyone you’ve loved in the past whose absence you greatly regret today?”

His beautiful, gentle face appeared in her memory, sweet as a refreshing wind on a hot summer night, and her eyes immediately filled with tears, driven by their far too sad outcome. Why, out of them all, did she have to have such a curiosity? Devoid of an answer, she turned her gaze to the woman and bit her lower lip hard before answering, in return, with a hidden plea:

“Can we skip the question, please?

At first, the TV anchor smiled wickedly, completely forgetting the definition of the word “professionalism”, and then, after reading the truth between the lines, explained shortly after, cutting it to the chase:

“Unfortunately no. Sorry!”

Hearing her, Rita closed her eyes for a few seconds so that she could find words suitable enough to describe their unfinished story, and later looked at each person on set, as if searching for him. Was he watching her? Was he proud?

And, more importantly, did he still love her at all?

“Yes, there is someone, but I’m afraid I can’t tell his name. Not here and not now.”

“Because everything ended badly between you two, or there’s a deeper reason?”

The young woman hurriedly shook her head, aiming to silence their curiosity, and wiped her face with her palm, hoping to erase the everlasting red in her cheeks — it was amazing how, though now at a great distance, he still had such power over her.

“Either of those things,” She murmured, the burden of her worst mistake so far weighing heavily on her chest, and then she took a deep breath and revealed a truth she had told no one before — not even him. Everything that happened between us was solely my fault. “Although I loved him madly, I didn’t know how to fight for us, not with the force our relationship needed to survive in a world where everyone was against us. I screwed up big time, even though, at that time, I thought it was the right choice. We let the differences between us win, and we followed the advice of those who clearly wanted to harm us, instead of helping. And I lost him. I told him to leave, and he did without even looking back. I’ve been living a continuous night ever since, and I don’t even remember when was the last time I saw our star-lit sky.”

The woman watched her with sympathy, but knowing that her role in the whole situation was to cut off her wings, she continued to question, in a first attempt to make her reveal more.

“Have you ever seen him after your breakup? Has he called you at all?”

Rita sighed, gripped by bitterness and helplessness.

“Just the way we all do it — on TV. And no, he did not contact me again.”

“Would you like him to do it? At least to congratulate you for the sudden success your screenplay had in the world of TV series?”

She emphasised the word “sudden”, and gave her a knowing look, hoping her guest would get where she was coming from, and then she sat cross-legged, patiently waiting.

“Silence is also an answer, you know!? You choose whether you stick to it or clarify.”

Taken by surprise by the statement, the girl shuddered, not knowing if she should be honest or lie. Then, understanding she had no way out of the situation, she chose the easiest path of all.

“I’ve long since stopped believing in miracles, and for the two of us to get back together, well, there’s a desperate need for one.”

For a brief moment, the entire set was as silent as a convent. Seconds later, when she expected less, the presenter spoke again, and the skies had fallen, crushing her every hope and dream with just a few words.

“Forgive me, my dear, but it was meant to happen, no matter how hard you try to take the blame for all of this.”

Rita regarded her with a puzzled expression, unable to believe what she was hearing. Was this woman for real or was it all just one of her jokes?

“Excuse me!? I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean, even though I’m doing my best.”

“Is that so? You’re still a child, sweetheart, unlike him, and you’re simply too naïve to get it.”

The screenwriter swallowed as soon as she realised that Mrs. Thomas knows or, at least, suspects who her ex-lover is, but managed to keep her calm while waiting for her to finish her train of thought. How was that possible? And was he the one who told her?

“I hate that I have to be the one to break it to you, but given the field you both work in, as well as the differences — and she coldly stared at her from head to toe — between the two of you, I was more than sure this relationship was going to end badly for you. He enjoyed some time with someone younger and gullible, while waiting for his next conquest, and you had the fairy tale with the famous guy all the girls dream of. Do you understand now?”

Rita nodded, consumed with grief, and then, unable to hold back, allowed a whimper to leave her mouth. It was not possible. It could not be possible, not when his feelings seemed so real and she felt that, if she had asked, he would have brought her both the sun and the moon as a gift, all out of love. All those moments spent together under a cloudless sky also came to her mind, and a small smile saw the light through the darkness, trying to immediately prove the opposite to all those distrustful.

Not only had the months spent with him been a fantasy, but a fairy tale like the ones she used to read about in novels while daydreaming of soul mates and happily ever afters. At any moment, be it night or day, she had flown through the air, carried by his strong arms, and hoped to remain there for eternity, for she considered this to be Paradise and herself an unworthy mortal, without another chance to reach it. She had offered herself to him both body and soul, just like the moon gives herself to the stars every evening, and he, deeply in love, had dropped to his knees and promised her the entire sky as a gift. Later, timid and yet so passionate, they had written their magic as best as they could.

With the sweetest glances.

The shyest touches.

And secretly stolen kisses.

Plagued by the memories of a recent past, Rita sighed. As their relationship was considered to be unusual because of their differences, the two lovers were forced to hide their feelings away from the eyes of the malevolent and, therefore, had chosen to keep a low profile. Thus, each place visited had come to be painted with the colours of their beautiful, but far too short story, and they, happy to be together, had enjoyed themselves passionately, making time itself stop at their sight.

The tunnel inside which, for the very first time, they had confessed their affection for one another and agreed to embark on a journey together and fight for the future. Their eternally starry sky, under whose radiance they had so many times dared to fall asleep while embracing each other, even despite danger. The trailer where, countless nights, he had wiped away her tears and put a smile on her face, saving her from her own calamity. The chapel where, more certain than ever, he had made the most important of his promises. And the house... Their dear house, where they both had imagined that they would live to old age, but in which they had only reached their cruel end.

How could she give up when, because of him, she learned to believe in the impossible?

“You have no idea what happened between us,” The young screenwriter replied, feeling that she had to defend her first and only love, and then put her hand to her chest, trying to calm the frantic song of her heart. “You don’t even know how fierce our love was. You’re talking nonsense just because you want to sling mud at something that was once so beautiful and pure. But I will not allow you such a thing, not when I have the power to defend everything.”

The woman laughed rudely, amused by her childish audacity.

Then, like a lioness on the hunt, she struck when the writer least expected it.

“You and who else, dear Rita? I’m not sure you remember, but not even he supported you when you needed it.”

The words fell on her shoulders like cold rain on a freezing day, and the girl, suddenly struck by reality, let the tears run down her face, perhaps even harder than she had at the time of their parting. Why, of them all, did Mrs. Thomas have to ask about that one thing that, probably, upset her the most? And how did she even know such a detail? Completely overwhelmed by the unforeseen situation she was in, the young woman looked at the TV anchor with all the disgust she was capable of, and then stuck her fingernails in her small palms, trying to cause a physical pain greater than the one in her soul.

If their separation had been the earthquake that, in just a few seconds, had managed to tear down her body and mind, his obvious distrust had represented the tsunami that later sunk her with its turbulent waters, leading to the bottom of the ocean and leaving her there, all alone and helpless. Although he had said nothing when, out of nowhere, the fire had broken out between her and the filmmaker, his silence and hesitation had proved to be resounding, and she, deeply wounded, had screamed on the inside, not wanting anyone else to hear her — not even him.

Determined not to let the conversation go in the direction long dreamed of by the enemy, Rita hurriedly changed the subject, hoping that, miraculously, the woman would have mercy on her and leave her past where it belonged.

“I thought you invited me here to talk about my projects, not my personal life,” She said heavily, still out of breath from crying. “I was told not to come, as this is not the kind of show that would do me justice, but I didn’t listen, believing I was being lied to. Too bad I was wrong. Do you feel better now that you’ve said what’s on your mind? Or should I expect worse?”

Noticing her boldness, Mrs. Thomas rolled her eyes. Stupid girl! How dared she disrespect her like that? And, more importantly, what did she think she would achieve by doing so? Mercy? Forgiveness? The woman snorted, unable to help herself. Although she had been warned of the boundless stupidity of the young lady in front of her, she had never imagined that she would be able to show so much blind confidence in a world she was more than likely not going to be a part of.

At the same time, she was amazed by her love for a man she did not deserve and would never deserve, no matter how hard she tried to be the right person. Even though she had encountered countless such cases of love throughout her long career, she had not foreseen that Rita would prove to be the most stubborn of all, but on the contrary.

Guided by all those she was told long before the girl’s presence in the show was even confirmed, Matilda had imagined her as being perhaps too fragile, easily influenced, who would not utter many words, and whom she would bring down without trying too hard. But now, finally having her as a guest and finding a young woman set out to protect her story even at the cost of the imminent downfall, the TV presenter had to admit she was impressed. Despite the fact that the sadness was evident in her tears and on the cheeks painted with the red of the endless pain inside, her words and gentleness continued to follow him and him alone, while her heart still seemed to scream his name.

As if they had fallen in love, finding refuge only in each other.

As if they were both against the world, but today cruelly separated by fate.

As if it would never be the same again...

Amused by her childish attempt to hold her accountable, Mrs. Thomas set aside her sheets and, with the cunning of an old fox, chose to hit the guest where she was hurting the most, knowing she was one step closer to falling apart. Even though, she had to admit, the story of their romance was one that had almost won her empathy, her goal was a much bigger and more important one, involving a dear friend who had almost lost everything. So, how could she choose a stranger when those close to her were suffering? She had to destroy the girl, just as she had been asked. There was no doubt about anything else.

“Your projects? What projects, Rita? The ones you have just because your ex-boyfriend put in a good word for you? Don’t be ridiculous! You’re nothing without him and you’ll always be, no matter how hard you’ll try to do well. Only the strong and unscrupulous succeed in such a field, and you, unfortunately, are far too weak. I can’t wait to see the world crumbling down around you. Something tells me it’s going to be one hell of a show.”

As if by a deed, the woman’s poisoned words had brought the nightmare to life, for in a second she felt her body trembling and her heart threatening to stop beating in her chest. How could she even say such a thing when, from the very beginning, her hard work had been so obvious? And, more importantly, who was that one ally that misled her so much? Deprived of an explanation, the girl lowered her eyelids and leaned back on the chair, reviewing her whole journey and, at the same time, trying to sooth the storm inside. If the suffering felt out of love for him was one that, day by day, threatened to vanquish the fire inside, the one regarding her work was one that always took her back to a past where everyone around had done everything possible to kill her every hope and stop her from dreaming.

She frowned.

Throughout her life, and especially since she had just discovered her talent and began to make use of it, she had been forced to sit and listen to their motivational speeches, meant to frighten her and force her back on a safe path. At the same time, she had been told so many times she was untalented that, without even wanting to, she found herself hanging involuntarily on a thread, ready to fall prey to the evil in their souls and forget what she truly desired. She had written tens of thousands of words, sharing her most beautiful stories with the world, and had even come to publish, proving a resounding success. She loved her creations above all else, and the fact that this woman made such statements in her childish attempt to bring her down caused her disgust.

“Come on! Don’t you have anything else to say? Or the cat got your tongue?”

At first, though dizzy, Rita rose to her feet and looked at Matilda with all the hatred she could muster. Later, realising that inappropriate behaviour would have made her as bad of a person as her opponent, she responded with her last thoughts before leaving the show:

“Not at all. The day has not yet come for me to be silent, not after it has taken me years to find my voice and learn how to use it. I just decided to choose myself and that at the risk of making a fool of myself in front of so many people. I don’t plan to just sit and listen to someone trying to tarnish my reputation. I’ve done that quite a bit in the past and I’ve almost lost myself because of it. Besides, I already know you’re going to try and turn everything I say against me, so it’s pointless. I hope you get a good night’s sleep, even though you’ve only caused me harm! Both you and the one guiding you!”

With all her might, before finally collapsing, she smiled warmly at Mrs. Thomas, wiping out all that was said by the woman, and then, right in the midst of shooting, left the set without looking back once. Although she knew first-hand that the people’s cruelty can sometimes be endless, she had believed until the last moment that things would go well and she would be treated with kindness and understanding. Still, when that damned question about a person from her past came out of nowhere, she suddenly realised how blind she had been and, once again, remembered a truth she had forgotten the moment she had left the country.

Not all people were truly good.

Not even those who were supposed to be by your side.

Near the exit now, Rita slowed down enough to catch her breath and look in her bag for the pills she often took to calm herself in times of crisis. But, discovering that they are untraceable, probably knowingly left at home, she took a mouthful of water, hoping to remove the lump in her throat. Just because she was striving to be a soulful person, who always put the good and happiness of others above her own, that did not automatically mean that her peers, known or not, shared the same way of thinking, but on the contrary. Some seem to have been born with venom flowing through their veins instead of blood because, for whatever the circumstance, all they showed the world was a hatred she could not comprehend no matter how hard she tried.

The woman she just met was the perfect example.

“I need to get out of here and forget this day has ever happened,” She managed to whisper through her jerky breaths, after seconds of effort. “A few more steps. Just a few more steps. If only I could get out of here and find a car, it would be perfect.”

Inhaling deeply, she started moving again and, step by step, walked slowly until she reached the crowded parking lot. Then, as she found the strength to look up from the ground and watch the beautiful blue sky, she smiled, full of gratitude. Even though she had imagined that her first televised adventure would carry out in a completely different way, bringing smiles to her face and a lot of enthusiasm about the future, it was impossible for her not to be satisfied with the outcome, especially when she had faced her worst enemy and fought against her fear. She might even confess that she felt proud, no matter how inappropriate her gesture might seem, for she had never been able to defend her loved ones before, and this, for her, was the sign of a new beginning.

Everything was going to be okay.

It had to.

“All I have left to do is deal with my family’s dissatisfaction and all the ways they’ll remind me I embarrassed them once more. At least I’m used to that.”

Then, like a sweet bird song by the window, she heard his voice fleetingly. She did it weakly, through all the noise created by people and cars. She did it passingly, despite her heart shouting in her chest, asking to go to him. She did it passionately and longingly, although she promised to forget. How could she even lie to herself like that? And, most importantly, why was he even here? What was Fate’s plan this time?

Still stunned by his sudden appearance, she stood still, waiting. Later, she found herself caught up in contradictions. She did not want to see him, not after everything Mrs. Thomas had put her through, but also found it impossible to move and leave the place. She didn’t want to have him close, for she was scared of another breakup, but she couldn’t send him away either, for his breath on her neck and his strong arms around her thin waist were all she longed for. She wasn’t planning to deal with him again, at least not soon, but, at the same time, she knew she would never be able to get rid of the man at all, not when it was clear that they belonged to each other and were meant to be together.

If only she had one more moment to prepare...

“Rita? Rita, my darling love, is that you? What are you doing here? I thought I told you not to come.”

But she did not get a chance to answer or even look at him because, finally touched by darkness, Rita fell to the ground.

And his soul almost died at her sight.

𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞! 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲! 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡, 𝐈 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐈‘𝐦 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰 𝐦𝐲 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐨𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲. 𝐌𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭‘𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐈’𝐦 𝐬𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧. 𝐈𝐧 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞! 𝐈 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭!