the unsent project. | Taylor Swift, One-Shots

"the 'what if' still eats away at me when it's quiet."

Unsent Message #2:

To Taylor:
I've moved on, but
the 'what if' still
eats away at me
when it's quiet.

• • • • •

In the bustling world of Hollywood, Riley James navigated her rise to stardom with a grace that belied her age. From the onset of her career as a precocious teenager to the pinnacle of success in her early 30s, she had become a revered figure in the entertainment industry. Her journey from a quaint town in the outskirts of London to the dazzling streets of Los Angeles had been one etched with ambition and unwavering determination.

The move to America was a pivotal turning point, a leap into a realm of new opportunities, where Riley's talent found its perfect canvas. Her arrival in Los Angeles was more than just a career move; it was a seismic shift that altered the trajectory of her life. Amidst the glitz and glamour, she encountered Taylor Swift, a luminary in her own right, whose mere existence struck Riley's heart like the most beautiful thunder storm.

Their encounter was more than chance; it was a collision of souls, a serendipitous meeting that sparked a love that engulfed them both. The intensity of their connection was palpable, a fervor that ignited their lives with an incandescent glow. For Riley, Taylor was the missing piece she never knew existed—a presence that illuminated the shadows and brought meaning to her existence. It was as if, for the British girl, life didn't start making sense until the day she first met Taylor.

Taylor, on the other hand, would later go on to say Riley was the one that got away, a beautiful and haunting what-if that would never reach it's closure. Almost like a meteor strike that made everyone after her feel like second-best. Someone she would always feel wander around her. The singer never mentioned her by name, but everyone knew.

Their love story unfolded in a whirlwind of passion and ardor, but like most tempestuous romances, its flames flickered and waned. The highs were meteoric, eclipsing everything else, yet the lows were a painful descent into uncertainty and heartache. Their on-again, off-again relationship was a rollercoaster, an emotional labyrinth that left them breathless, yearning for stability they couldn't quite grasp.

Time marched on, and the echoes of their past love lingered, haunting both Riley and Taylor in their separate lives. They both moved on, finding solace in new relationships, but nothing ever compared to the depth of what they once shared. Each subsequent love was a mere echo of a symphony they had orchestrated together—a symphony that resonated deep within their souls, forever elusive and unmatched.

The tale of Riley and Taylor was a saga of passion and longing, a narrative that spoke of a love so intense, so consuming, that it defied rationality and left an indelible imprint on their beings.

• • • • •

In the unprecedented halt caused by the global pandemic of 2020, the world stood still, a collective pause in the frenetic rhythm of life. For Riley James, accustomed to a whirlwind existence filled with perpetual motion between film sets and red carpets, this sudden cessation was a jarring departure from the norm. The bustling schedule that defined her life came to an abrupt halt, leaving her in a rare state of prolonged stillness within the confines of her home.

Similarly, Taylor Swift found herself in uncharted territory as her meticulously planned tour dates dissolved into uncertainties and eventual cancellations. A powerhouse in the music industry, Taylor, much like Riley, was driven by an unrelenting work ethic. Yet, amidst the chaos, she embraced a different avenue—an unforeseen creative outpouring that would birth "folklore."