SUNBURN | JOHN B ROUTLEDGE

001

Gabriella stood by the expansive, floor-to-ceiling windows of her penthouse bedroom, resting her forehead lightly against the cool glass. The room behind her was a sanctuary of luxury, adorned with plush furnishings and contemporary art, yet her attention was wholly captured by the sprawling cityscape outside.

Below, the streets of New York City pulsed with life. Yellow cabs wove through the traffic like schools of fish, their horns creating a chaotic symphony. Pedestrians hurried along the sidewalks, their faces illuminated by the glowing signs of storefronts and the occasional flash of a passing car's headlights. The cacophony of city life, from the distant wail of a siren to the murmur of voices, reached her ears even from the heights of her lofty vantage point.

Beyond the immediate bustle, the city's skyline stretched out, a forest of steel and glass. Towering skyscrapers rose into the night, their windows twinkling with lights that mirrored the constellations hidden by the urban haze. Each building seemed to compete with its neighbors, striving to touch the sky, their silhouettes a testament to human ambition and architectural marvel.

Gabriella's gaze drifted upwards, seeking solace in the heavens. But where she yearned to see stars, there was only a dull, smoky blur. The light pollution, a byproduct of the city's relentless energy, obscured the night sky, rendering the stars faint and nearly invisible. She could count on one hand the pinpricks of light that managed to penetrate the thick veil. It was a far cry from the brilliant, star-studded skies she remembered from her childhood vacations in the countryside, where the Milky Way unfurled in all its glory, untainted by the artificial glow of civilization.

A sigh escaped her lips, a mixture of resignation and longing. New York, the city of lights, dazzled in so many ways, yet it stole from her one of the simplest, most profound joys – the ability to gaze upon the universe and feel a part of something infinitely larger. The irony was not lost on her: the very lights that made the city famous also dimmed the stars.

Lost in her thoughts, Gabriella barely noticed the transition from the urban exterior to the quiet interior of her home. The muffled sound of her step-father's voice broke through her reverie, growing clearer as he ended a phone call. Moments later, his familiar tone called out to her, summoning her downstairs. With one last wistful look at the starless sky, she turned away from the window and made her way towards the staircase, the ever-present hum of the city a constant companion. The city might hide the stars, but its heartbeat was unmistakable, a reminder that she was in the heart of a world teeming with life and possibility.

"Sit down, Gabriella. We need to talk." He spoke. Feeling a sense of unease in her stomach, Gabriella placed herself on the marble steps of her staircase.

"What do you want?" She asked, with her voice laced in hostility.

Gabriella and her step-father's relationship was strained. It had been strained ever since her mother left when she was 10. Gabriella was unsure as to why her mother left, but she knew better than to try to contact someone who didn't want to be known. But she couldn't help but constantly ask herself why her mother wouldn't take her own blood with her and leave her with her ex husband? 

The photo albums of the 'family' that was once complete and placed on display across the entrance to the penthouse was now tucked away and hidden in the attic. Every so often Gabriella would sneak up to the attic and look at photos of her mother, and judge how similar she looked like her mother, it was clear that was one of the reasons her step-father, Dean Evans, had no relationship with Gabriella. 

Dean Evans was a striking figure, the kind of man whose presence commanded attention in any room. Tall and broad-shouldered, he carried himself with the confidence of someone accustomed to the limelight. His meticulously groomed hair, touched with just the right amount of distinguished gray, and his chiseled features, high cheekbones, a strong jawline, and piercing blue eyes, only added to his allure. Always impeccably dressed in tailored suits and polished shoes, he exuded an effortless elegance that belied his intense dedication to his craft.