MOTH TO A FLAME ☆ CARLOS SAINZ JR

xxiii. begin again

NEW YORK CITY
OCTOBER 2021

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the bustling city streets, the air filled with the sounds of traffic and distant chatter. Sofía had just moved into her new apartment, boxes still scattered around the living room, the scent of fresh paint lingering in the air. She decided to take a break from unpacking and explore her new neighborhood, hoping to find a café where she could grab a coffee maybe.

She crosses the street as she leaves her building, assuming that the crowd gathered by the central park gate were aiming to enjoy the afternoon sun. Unbeknownst to her, she had walked straight onto a film set. A crew member quickly approached her, his face a mix of irritation and amusement. "Hey, you can't be here! This is a closed set."

Sofía's eyes widened in realization, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry! I didn't realize..." she stammered, starting to back away.

"It's alright," a deep voice interrupted, and Sofía turned to see a tall, striking man with dark hair and a charming smile approaching. He wore a costume that suggested he was part of the film, his presence commanding attention. "No harm done," he continued, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

She looked up at him, feeling flustered. "I had no idea this was a film set," she said, still mortified by her mistake.

He laughed, a warm, genuine sound. "It happens more often than you'd think. I'm Luca, by the way. This is my movie, actually."

"Sofía," she replied, trying to steady her racing heart.  How does she always find herself in these situations? "I just moved into the building over there. I'm really sorry for interrupting."

Luca extended his hand, his smile never wavering. "Well, welcome to the neighborhood, Sofía. And welcome to our little slice of Hollywood in the city."

She reached for his hand, letting out an awkward chuckle. "Thank you. I promise I won't disrupt your filming again."

"Don't worry about it," Luca said, still holding her gaze.

Sofía nodded, feeling a mix of relief and lingering embarrassment. "Thanks. I should probably get going. Good luck with the filming," she said, offering him a small smile before turning to leave.

She continued down the street, her mind buzzing with the unexpected encounter and her lingering embarrassment. As she walked, she found a cozy café and decided to stop in for a coffee. The warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloped her as she ordered a latte and took a seat by the window.

As she gazed out at the busy street, her thoughts drifted to the whirlwind of changes that had brought her to New York. She had left behind so much – her family, her friends, and most painfully, Carlos. It had been a difficult decision, one that still gnawed at her heart.

She sighed, taking a sip of her latte. Moving to New York was supposed to be a fresh start, a chance to focus on her career as a songwriter and build something of her own. But sitting here, alone in a new city, the weight of her choices pressed down on her. She missed the familiar warmth of her family, the comfort of knowing her way around, and most of all, she missed Carlos's presence.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her reverie, Nora's beaming smile looking up at her from her phone screen. A smile tugged at her lips as she answered the call.

"Nora! I was just thinking about you." Sofía greeted, genuinely happy to hear from her friend. "How are you?

"I'm doing good, but the café misses you terribly," Nora's warm voice crackled through the phone. "It's just not the same without you and your music, do you know how many people I've had to ban from singing on that stage? Too many, Sof!" she couldn't help but laugh, it was one of the reasons that had upset Nora so much with this move. She would now have to find someone to fill in her weekly spots. "Anyways, how's New York treating you so far?"