Prologue - Summer Time Losses
Long summer days spent resting under shady trees, conversing about anything and everything. Evening chats and sleepovers under the stars, that’s how Saphira and Damian spent each summer.
Saphira Alore was a small seven-year-old girl with big dreams.
She reached for the stars, and you could always see them in her eyes. Being an actress was her goal behind everything she did, and she spared no expense going on and on about her plans to her best friend.
The son of the Friths was a wealthy child. Damian Firth was a well-mannered boy who was constantly burdened with preparations to take over his father’s business.
When Damian had time away from the endless hours of etiquette training and tutoring. The first thing he would do was to run to his neighbor Saphira’s home.
She was the same age as him, and the only company he was ever able to visit. Their fathers were business partners, so he had the excuse to visit her house. To maintain a good business relationship between the two companies.
He would listen to her talk about her big ideas for hours on end. He always sat in the hammock in her room, closed his eyes, and imagined her plans. The way she would shine on a stage. How amazing she would look while being projected on a screen in a theater, full of her fans.
Since he knew he could never have any of his own, he lived the idea of having dreams through hers. But eventually, he started to also love the thrill of the arts.
One summer day, when the two were twelve, a question came to Saphina’s mind.
“Hey, Damian,” Said Saphira.
“Why don’t you ever share anything about your life. You’re always invested in my plans and what I want to do, but don’t mention anything about yours. You’re talented, I’m sure you have some plans.”
He replied to her curiosity, ” It’s Simple, I don’t have any. I can’t have any.”
He took a moment and paused, softening his tone the best he could, “My whole life is set up by my father’s plans. I don’t have time to think about what I want, because I need to be what my father expects me to be.”
Saphria’s face was locked in an expression of confusion and discomfort. She never quite understood the boy; in fact, recently, she barely saw him. She heard about things getting serious with his father’s business as the threat of going bankrupt loomed over it. But she didn’t know the details, and didn’t dare to ask.
Saphira Knew Damian’s dad; he was a man of few words, only warm to his business partners. Like her own father...
She would occasionally find herself feeling sorry for Damian. Thankfully, her father didn’t burden her with taking over the family business and allowing her some freedom.
“Damian”, Saphira said his name softly in a manner that would melt his anger every time.
But she didn’t need to know that; Damian made sure of it.
She continued, “How long are you going to let him do this to you. We’ve been friends for a long time now, and I know you well enough. I’m sure you don’t want to take over your father’s business.”
Saphira often saw Damian’s gift for the arts; he was a good musician and was well-versed in the world of performers. Something she knew he needed to realize for himself, so she didn’t mention it.
“It’s not that eas-” Damian tried to get out, but Saphira interrupted.
“But it is, just think. Just close your eyes and think for a minute,” she urged him to come to the conclusion she had found out long ago.
Damian stared at her, unamused.
“It’s not that easy, Saph. Even if I thought about it, there would be no difference; my father would look at me with even more resentment than he already does.”
Damian learned to never admit what he wanted. He would never tell his father the thoughts that ran through his mind constantly. Because there would be no going back.
Saphira’s eyes flooded with determination. “Come on, try it, admit it. You and I both know where your passion lies. All you have to do is admit it.”
Damian gave in. “Fine. I wanna work in Hollywood. So what, it’s not like my father would ever consider it for me.”
“Your father doesn’t have to; we will go together and explain, okay! Just you and me.” Saphira said with a naive smile.
“Promise?” Damian asked, and he could look at her smile for ages. It made him feel like anything was possible.
“I promise!” Saphira said with a grin. “Now go home before you get in trouble for being here so long. Let’s talk to your dad first thing tomorrow!”
Damian began to brew with hope for the first time; he felt as if he could actually do it if Saph was by his side.
He began to leave. “See ya tomorrow, Saph, I can’t wait!” Damian yelled back as he swiftly moved across the lawn.
Saphira watched him a little longer that day, for some reason, she felt empty. She felt uneasy, although their conversation was bright.
That evening, she noticed a hustle in the air around Damian’s home. Trucks went back and forth from the house, loading what she hoped were new items to be sold by his family’s business.
When she awoke the next day, she found a letter on her nightstand left there by her maid.
She jolted out of bed.
Her sleepy state washed away when she saw the name neatly printed on the envelope.
It read ” To Saph... from Damian.”
Saphina had never ripped open a letter so fast. Her eyes tore through the words written; they began to swell with tears. She couldn’t believe it had happened; her fear just had to come true, didn’t it?
Damian wrote her a rushed letter, in which he thanked Saphira for their time together and for being his friend. He explained his father went bankrupt and that his family had to leave... immediately. He said goodbye... but Saphira could not get over the tears imprinted on the letter.
She hugged the letter and sobbed. The thought “He was so close to finally telling him. I could have helped him” rang in her ears. Plagued her mind, and played over and over like a broken record.
Damian never returned to her hometown, and so Saphira's life moved forward. Yet, occasionally, she would remember his face and wonder where he went or what he was doing. But most of all, she wondered if he was happy. She hoped he was happy.
