Sliding Doors - 2 (English Version)

Chapter 37

Josephine

"Are you sure you don't want me to accompany you to the set?" Shane asks me for the umpteenth time.

He was worried because he saw me crying this morning.
I got caught up in a moment of weakness, and as I was getting ready to go out, I went over some pictures of me and Hero. I could not resist but I burst into tears almost immediately.

I didn't want to tell him the whole story, nor to whom I was referring but Shane is smart, if he already imagined who I was talking about.

"No, don't worry... I'll take my car and go!" I smile at him.

"I'll take you to the car then, because I have to recover mine too..." insists.

I know, if it was up to him, he wouldn't let me go out alone today!
I'd be happy to stay home too, except today is rehearsal day and tomorrow we start to get serious.

I will meet all the actors in the cast of Moxie and it can only do me good, so the mind will stop thinking about the same person 24h a day...

"Okay, I'll give you that..." I tease him while he puts on his shoes and takes the keys to get out.

"I'll be in town for some more time, stop by whenever you want, okay?" he asks, looking at me apprehensively.

"Hey, Shane, I'm fine... really!" I mention a smile "I'll tell you when I'm free, so we can organize... the shooting will last several weeks I think!"

"Don't worry... we'll find a way! Don't run away from me, okay?"
We stop in front of our cars and he takes my hands, to emphasize what he just said.
I nod while the tears peep out again.
I don't have to cry.
Not now.
I quickly get in the car and get my phone to turn on the navigator.
On this side of town, I don't know how to get to the studios where we're going to start shooting the film.

The notification of a message catches my attention.

No.

I can't.

Not now.

I can't open it now.

Hero - new message

No.

The only way to move on is to ignore it, no matter how much it hurts.

I have to do it for myself.
I don't know if this is the best decision to make, but right now, that's what I want to do.
Even if it hurts.
Even if it hurts badly.

I turn on the navigator ignoring the message that has just arrived.

The notification and the fact that I have a message inside my phone creeps into me, like a worm.
I can't think of anything else.
What did he write?
What does he want to know?
Maybe he sent the message wrong.

Will he really wants to hear me?

Ask me how I am?

A part of me desperately hopes for that, but I push it back.
I can't afford to give in now.

I arrive at the studios half an hour in advance.
I turn off the navigator and the notification reappears.

Hero - new message

Another message?
Sigh.
No.
I'm not opening it.

I put my phone in the bag and zip it up.

I get out of the car and head to the entrance, showing the badge to the guard at the entrance.

The studios are really huge and very different from those of After.
I look around, not recognizing any of the people who crowd the various premises. It looks like a mini town, with streets and sheds.
There are golf machines that whizz around here and there.
People who laugh and talk on the phone with a very concentrated expression.