TO HAVE & HAVE NOT

44

Olivia

"Action!" Collin shouted from behind his director's seat, the command echoing through the bustling set.

As Johnny strolled onto the scene, he leaned down, pressing his lips against mine in a soft, lingering kiss that made my heart flutter. I melted into the embrace, savoring the sincerity that radiated from him, every fleeting second bridging the gap between reality and fiction.

"Come, my love," he whispered, his voice smooth and enticing as he intertwined his fingers with mine, leading me elegantly to the plush sofa placed center stage.

Once seated, he anchored my hands firmly in his lap, his warmth wrapping around me as I gazed up into his eyes, searching for something profound amidst the rehearsed moments of the film. His gaze drifted momentarily down to our linked hands before returning to lock into mine as if trying to convey unspoken truths that lay beneath the surface of the scripted dialogue.

"You know I love you, right?" he began, and my heart skipped a beat. I had memorized the script meticulously, yet those lines were entirely unscripted, raw, and spontaneous, capturing the essence of a truth that felt far too real.

My breath caught in my throat, and I managed to choke out, "Yes," barely above a whisper.

Johnny continued, his words laden with a gravity that hung in the air like a heavy fog. "I've been married before and divorced. I can't go through that again. So, if you want a career more than anything, I will do everything I can to help you and send you on your way, but I will not marry you. I've been through it, and I know it doesn't work. You have to choose," he said, and the weight of his monologue was suffocating, bringing my mind back to the night before when those words hung between us, testing the very foundations of our connection.

The challenge of remaining in character was overwhelming, as the lines blurred dangerously between his role and his authentic self. It was as if we were both unearthing emotions meant for the screen but were instead encapsulated in this moment of vulnerability. "I choose you, Bogie," I declared softly, feeling the finality of my words resonate not only on set but deep within my heart.

"Cut!" Collin said, breaking the scene. The two of us were utterly frozen on that couch, hand in hand, not breaking eye contact as the world around us faded into a blur.

What just happened? I thought as emotions swirled chaotic, a strange mix of exhilaration and vulnerability.

"Well done!" Collin clapped, jolting me back to reality.

The warmth of the studio lights washed over us like a spotlight as I finally broke eye contact, tucking a stray strand of my hair behind my ear, the simple gesture feeling monumental at that moment. I smiled down at the palms of my hands, trying to ground myself while everyone on set erupted into applause, their enthusiastic approval wrapping around us like a familiar embrace.

"The last scene! And we need no recaps!" Collin remarked, his voice tinged with excitement and pride. "The chemistry between you two is beautiful. It was almost like a candid conversation between Johnny and Olivia." His words washed over me, both a compliment and a weight.

Collin quickly wiped a tear from his cheek, and I felt my throat tighten as the gravity of the sentiment hit me.

In that instant, I experienced the familiar gut feeling—a rush of panic, the instinct to flee. Yet, here, in this moment of vulnerability, I could feel my breathing pick up, the noise of the applause a distant echo as everything around me felt surreal and overwhelming, my throat stinging with the sudden urge to cry.

I raced back to my dressing room, the din of the outside world fading behind me as the door shut with a definitive click, leaving me in a sanctuary of my own unraveling emotions.