Off The Air

Valentine's Day

February 14, 2024

Another holiday, another first drafts segment. No holiday is worse to write this segment for than Valentine's Day. You've never really had a valentine, and quite frankly despised the holiday. All your life it just felt like a day that was meant to expose you as a loner. You tried your best to keep your head up throughout the day, but seeing Stephen have to fake being a happy husband didn't help. You try to avoid him in order to keep everything as normal as possible, but he just wouldn't let you. As you walk out of your office, you see him down the hallway talking to a producer. When he spots you, you turn around and walk the other way. He quickly cuts off the conversation to chase you, knowing that you were trying to distance yourself from him. He calls your name, but you just keep walking until he catches up with you.

"Hey, are you alright? You've been dodging me all day." "Yea, I'm fine." You reply. "Well, there's something in my office for you, I'd really like for you to come with me." He says. The very thing you were afraid of was him getting you anything for Valentine's Day. "Ummm... I gotta go make copies of this." You reply as you hold up the packet in your hand. "It'll only take a second." He says begging you to go with him. "Y/n! Have you made the copies yet?" You hear one of your coworkers yell from the other room. "Sorry." You say to Stephen as you go along with the rest of your day.

Ironically, today's your day to go on stage during rehearsal and go over everything with Stephen, so your whole plan of avoiding him would be cut short. Your new plan was to go on set and put the first draft cards on the desk and leave, then return before rehearsal. Somehow, Stephen had beat you there. He was already at his desk 2 hours before rehearsal. You approach Stephen at his desk, and hand him the stack of holiday cards. "Well hello, shall we start again?" He says. "Why are you here so early??" You question. "Because I knew I'd be working with you today." He says confidently. "Look I'm sorry for earlier, I just... I didn't want to get in your way today. Just not today." You explain. "Why? Because it's Valentine's Day? You really think I want to spend it with her? You know if my marriage wasn't a constant battle then I'd say you're too kind." He says. "In my defense, I've never liked this holiday. All through high school and college, and really up until now it's just a day that wasn't meant for me." You say sitting in the guest seat next to his desk. "I thought you had a boyfriend in college." He responds "We didn't make it to Valentine's Day, further proving my point." You add.

"Anyways, my favorite card in here is the one about pizza." You say switching subjects. "Oh yea, the one that's like 'I wanna stuff your crust' right?" He says before laughing. "Yep, that's the one." You reply laughing with him. For the next 15 minutes, all you guys do is bond over the cards. It's heartwarming to hear Stephen go in depth on such little things and simple jokes. Same thing with the monologue. As you were analyzing it he kept making references, and making you think about it in a way you had never looked at it before. Maybe avoiding him was the wrong thing to do today. Although you had good intentions, he's the love of your life, and you can't avoid that.

You finally make it home after than long day, and sitting on the table in your living room is a bouquet of flowers, with another bouquet of chocolate covered fruit, a card, a letter, and a framed picture of you and Stephen from the night at the Emmy's. It was a bit overwhelming, but you manage to keep it cool as you open the letter.

"Dear y/n,

When I wanted you to come to my office earlier, I was only going to give you the framed photo. But you gave me no choice but to surprise you with all of it at once, for the best I suppose. I hope you enjoy and appreciate it as much as I enjoy and appreciate you. Just your pure existence gives me a reason to get out of bed every morning. I can't wait until I get to spend the rest of my life with you. Being able to freely shower you with affection is my only long term goal. I won't go on too long because I know how you get... (please don't cry!) Oh, and don't ask how I got this here so fast, I have my ways. By any means necessary I will show you that this holiday was meant for you.

Love, Stephen."

It was already too late, you had tears rolling down your face. Just witnessing how poetic he is when expressing his love for you, you were left speechless. Every time he serenades you, a bit of fear is removed from your body. The next day at work, you approach Stephen in his office. "Oh hey, did you see my-" you kiss him mid sentence. "So I guess you did." He continues with the biggest smile on his face. "I did, and I loved it... and yes I did cry." You reply. "Dammit, I should've put it as a warning at the beginning." He jokes as he wraps his arms around your waist, and you pull him in for another kiss.